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LOW severity

GHSA-xvjm-fvxx-q3hv

LOWFix: tensorflow/tensorflow@4c0ee93

GHSA-xvjm-fvxx-q3hv is a low-severity (CVSS 2.5) CWE-190 vulnerability in tensorflow. 1 public exploit reference exists, so weaponization risk is real. O3 Security confirms whether GHSA-xvjm-fvxx-q3hv is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.

CHECK-fail due to integer overflow

Also known asBIT-tensorflow-2021-29584CVE-2021-29584PYSEC-2021-221PYSEC-2021-512PYSEC-2021-710
Published
May 21, 2021
Updated
Jul 8, 2026
Affected
12 pkgs
Patched
12 / 12
Exploits
1 known
Exploitation data as of Jul 8, 2026 · OSV.dev, NVD, FIRST.org (EPSS)

Real-World Exposure

12 pkgs affected
🐍tensorflow🐍tensorflow🐍tensorflow🐍tensorflow🐍tensorflow-cpu🐍tensorflow-cpu🐍tensorflow-cpu🐍tensorflow-cpu+4 more

Real-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

An attacker can trigger a denial of service via a CHECK-fail in caused by an integer overflow in constructing a new tensor shape:

import tensorflow as tf

input_layer = 2**60-1
sparse_data = tf.raw_ops.SparseSplit(
    split_dim=1, 
    indices=[(0, 0), (0, 1), (0, 2), 
    (4, 3), (5, 0), (5, 1)],
    values=[1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0],
    shape=(input_layer, input_layer),
    num_split=2,
    name=None
    )

This is because the implementation builds a dense shape without checking that the dimensions would not result in overflow:

sparse::SparseTensor sparse_tensor;
OP_REQUIRES_OK(context,
               sparse::SparseTensor::Create(
                 input_indices, input_values,
                 TensorShape(input_shape.vec<int64>()), &sparse_tensor));

The TensorShape constructor uses a CHECK operation which triggers when InitDims returns a non-OK status.

template <class Shape>
TensorShapeBase<Shape>::TensorShapeBase(gtl::ArraySlice<int64> dim_sizes) {
  set_tag(REP16);
  set_data_type(DT_INVALID);
  TF_CHECK_OK(InitDims(dim_sizes));
}

In our scenario, this occurs when adding a dimension from the argument results in overflow:

template <class Shape>
Status TensorShapeBase<Shape>::InitDims(gtl::ArraySlice<int64> dim_sizes) {
  ...
  Status status = Status::OK();
  for (int64 s : dim_sizes) {
    status.Update(AddDimWithStatus(internal::SubtleMustCopy(s)));
    if (!status.ok()) {
      return status;
    }
  }
}

template <class Shape>
Status TensorShapeBase<Shape>::AddDimWithStatus(int64 size) {
  ...
  int64 new_num_elements;
  if (kIsPartial && (num_elements() < 0 || size < 0)) {
    new_num_elements = -1;
  } else {
    new_num_elements = MultiplyWithoutOverflow(num_elements(), size);
    if (TF_PREDICT_FALSE(new_num_elements < 0)) {
        return errors::Internal("Encountered overflow when multiplying ",
                                num_elements(), " with ", size,
                                ", result: ", new_num_elements);
      }
  }
  ...
}

This is a legacy implementation of the constructor and operations should use BuildTensorShapeBase or AddDimWithStatus to prevent CHECK-failures in the presence of overflows.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit 4c0ee937c0f61c4fc5f5d32d9bb4c67428012a60.

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

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 researchers from University of Virginia and University of California, Santa Barbara.

Affected Packages

12 total 12 fixed
EcosystemPackageVulnerable rangeFix
🐍PyPItensorflowall versions2.1.4
🐍PyPItensorflow2.2.0&&< 2.2.32.2.3
🐍PyPItensorflow2.3.0&&< 2.3.32.3.3
🐍PyPItensorflow2.4.0&&< 2.4.22.4.2
🐍PyPItensorflow-cpuall versions2.1.4
🐍PyPItensorflow-cpu2.2.0&&< 2.2.32.2.3
Exploits & PoCs
1

Research 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 dependency
  1. Detect

    Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for tensorflow. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.

  2. Fix

    Update tensorflow to 2.1.4 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-xvjm-fvxx-q3hv is resolved across your whole dependency graph.

  3. Workarounds

    If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.

  4. How O3 protects you

    O3 pinpoints whether GHSA-xvjm-fvxx-q3hv is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.

Tailored to GHSA-xvjm-fvxx-q3hv. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.

Frequently Asked Questions

### Impact An attacker can trigger a denial of service via a `CHECK`-fail in caused by an integer overflow in constructing a new tensor shape: ```python import tensorflow as tf input_layer = 2**60-1 sparse_data = tf.raw_ops.SparseSplit( split_dim=1, indices=[(0, 0), (0, 1), (0, 2), (4, 3), (5, 0), (5, 1)], values=[1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0], shape=(input_layer, input_layer), num_split=2, name=None ) ``` This is because the [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0908c2f2397c099338b901b067f6495a5b96760b/tensorflow/core/kernels/sp
O3 Security · Impact-Aware SCA

Is GHSA-xvjm-fvxx-q3hv in your dependencies?

O3 detects GHSA-xvjm-fvxx-q3hv across PyPI dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.