Skip to content
TensorFlowGHSA-3ff2-r28g-w7h9

Heap buffer overflow in `Transpose`

Medium5.5CVE-2021-41216 · Published Nov 10, 2021 · updated Jul 8, 2026

GitHub advisory

Affected versions

PackageAffectedFixed in
tensorflow
PyPI
>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.12.6.1
>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.22.5.2
< 2.4.42.4.4
Details and references

### Impact The [shape inference function for `Transpose`](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8d72537c6abf5a44103b57b9c2e22c14f5f49698/tensorflow/core/ops/array_ops.cc#L121-L185) is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow: ```python import tensorflow as tf @tf.function def test(): y = tf.raw_ops.Transpose(x=[1,2,3,4],perm=[-10]) return y test() ``` This occurs whenever `perm` contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in `perm` are all valid: ```cc for (int32_t i = 0; i < rank; ++i) { int64_t in_idx = data[i]; if (in_idx >= rank) { return errors::InvalidArgument("perm dim ", in_idx, " is out of range of input rank ", rank); } dims[i] = c->Dim(input, in_idx); } ``` where `Dim(tensor, index)` accepts either a positive index less than the rank of the tensor or the special value `-1` for unknown dimensions. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [c79ba87153ee343401dbe9d1954d7f79e521eb14](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/c79ba87153ee343401dbe9d1954d7f79e521eb14). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range. ### For more information Please consult [our security guide](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/master/SECURITY.md) 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.

CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Severity from
GitHub (reviewed advisory)
Weakness
CWE-120, CWE-787
Also known as
BIT-tensorflow-2021-41216, CVE-2021-41216, PYSEC-2021-408, PYSEC-2021-625, PYSEC-2021-823

More TensorFlow advisories

All TensorFlow
DateAdvisory
Nov 102021Code injection in `saved_model_cli`
CVE-2021-41228Medium7.5fixed in 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1
Nov 102021Arbitrary memory read in `ImmutableConst`
CVE-2021-41227Medium6.6fixed in 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1
Nov 102021Heap OOB in `SparseBinCount`
CVE-2021-41226Medium7.1fixed in 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1
Nov 102021A use of uninitialized value vulnerability in Tensorflow
CVE-2021-41225Medium5.5fixed in 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1
Nov 102021`SparseFillEmptyRows` heap OOB
CVE-2021-41224Medium7.1fixed in 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1
Nov 102021Heap OOB in `FusedBatchNorm` kernels
CVE-2021-41223Medium7.1fixed in 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1

Critical advisories by email

Wednesdays: the week’s critical and high advisories in the AI and data stack, with the fixed versions. Only in weeks that have some.

Double opt-in. Unsubscribe any time.