CVE-2021-41220 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.8) Use After Free vulnerability in tensorflow. 1 public exploit reference exists, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for tensorflow — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Use after free / memory leak in `CollectiveReduceV2`
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
CVE-2021-41220 by exploitation likelihood (EPSS) against impact (CVSS). Outside the shaded patch-first corner.
Where this sits among everything scored
Of 385,738 CVEs with a current EPSS score, this one falls in the < 10% band (highlighted). Counts from FIRST.org, log-scaled.
Real-World Exposure
tensorflow🐍tensorflow-cpu🐍tensorflow-gpuReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects PyPI packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Impact
The async implementation of CollectiveReduceV2 suffers from a memory leak and a use after free:
import tensorflow as tf
tf.raw_ops.CollectiveReduceV2(
input=[],
group_size=[-10, -10, -10],
group_key=[-10, -10],
instance_key=[-10],
ordering_token=[],
merge_op='Mul',
final_op='Div')
This occurs due to the asynchronous computation and the fact that objects that have been std::move()d from are still accessed:
auto done_with_cleanup = [col_params, done = std::move(done)]() {
done();
col_params->Unref();
};
OP_REQUIRES_OK_ASYNC(c,
FillCollectiveParams(col_params, REDUCTION_COLLECTIVE,
/*group_size*/ c->input(1),
/*group_key*/ c->input(2),
/*instance_key*/ c->input(3)),
done);
Here, done is already moved from by the time OP_REQUIRES_OK_ASYNC macro needs to invoke it in case of errors. In this case, we get an undefined behavior, which can manifest via crashes, std::bad_alloc throws or just memory leaks.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit ca38dab9d3ee66c5de06f11af9a4b1200da5ef75.
The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, as this version is the only one that is also affected.
For more information
Please consult our security guide for more information regarding the security model and how to contact us with issues and questions.
Attribution
This vulnerability has been reported by members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow | ≥ 2.6.0&&< 2.6.1 | 2.6.1pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow==2.6.1' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow-cpu | ≥ 2.6.0&&< 2.6.1 | 2.6.1pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow-cpu==2.6.1' |
| 🐍PyPI | tensorflow-gpu | ≥ 2.6.0&&< 2.6.1 | 2.6.1pip install --upgrade 'tensorflow-gpu==2.6.1' |
Affected Products
tensorflowgoogleResearch use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for tensorflow, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update tensorflow to 2.6.1 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2021-41220 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
Constrain what reaches the vulnerable code: limit the size and shape of untrusted input, isolate the affected component in a sandboxed or least-privileged process, and enable the platform's memory-safety mitigations (ASLR, stack protector, hardened allocator) so an out-of-bounds access is more likely to fail closed than to be exploitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2021-41220 in your dependencies?
Find it across PyPI, including transitive dependencies.