CHECK-fail in SparseConcat
Impact
An attacker can trigger a denial of service via a CHECK-fail in tf.raw_ops.SparseConcat:
import tensorflow as tf
import numpy as np
indices_1 = tf.constant([[514, 514], [514, 514]], dtype=tf.int64)
indices_2 = tf.constant([[514, 530], [599, 877]], dtype=tf.int64)
indices = [indices_1, indices_2]
values_1 = tf.zeros([0], dtype=tf.int64)
values_2 = tf.zeros([0], dtype=tf.int64)
values = [values_1, values_2]
shape_1 = tf.constant([442, 514, 514, 515, 606, 347, 943, 61, 2], dtype=tf.int64)
shape_2 = tf.zeros([9], dtype=tf.int64)
shapes = [shape_1, shape_2]
tf.raw_ops.SparseConcat(indices=indices, values=values, shapes=shapes, concat_dim=2)This is because the implementation takes the values specified in shapes[0] as dimensions for the output shape:
TensorShape input_shape(shapes[0].vec<int64>());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 69c68ecbb24dff3fa0e46da0d16c821a2dd22d7c.
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 Yakun Zhang and Ying Wang of Baidu X-Team.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | tensorflow | < 2.1.4, >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3, >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3, >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2 | 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 |
| Python (PyPI) | tensorflow-cpu | < 2.1.4, >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3, >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3, >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2 | 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 |
| Python (PyPI) | tensorflow-gpu | < 2.1.4, >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3, >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3, >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2 | 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 |
References
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/69c68ecbb24dff3fa0e46da0d16c821a2dd22d7c
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-6j9c-grc6-5m6g
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29534
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-462.yaml
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-660.yaml
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-171.yaml
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-754- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
tensorflow, tensorflow-cpu, tensorflow-gpu- Disclosed
- 14.05.2021
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 13:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-171 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-462 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-660 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-6j9c-grc6-5m6g - 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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