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Severe, 6 weeks1498Projects326

1498 severe, 6 weeks · 326 projects

TensorFlowGHSA-3rcw-9p9x-582v

Code injection in `saved_model_cli`

TensorFlow

CVE-2021-41228 · Published Nov 10, 2021 · updated Jul 8, 2026

Medium7.5
Fix: upgrade to 2.4.4 or later (3 fixed versions below)
GitHub advisory

Impact

TensorFlow's saved_model_cli tool is vulnerable to a code injection as it [calls eval on user supplied strings](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/87462bfac761435a46641ff2f10ad0b6e5414a4b/tensorflow/python/tools/saved_model_cli.py#L524-L550)

```python

def preprocess_input_exprs_arg_string(input_exprs_str):

...

for input_raw in filter(bool, input_exprs_str.split(';')):

...

input_key, expr = input_raw.split('=', 1)

input_dict[input_key] = eval(expr)

...

`

This can be used by attackers to run arbitrary code on the plaform where the CLI tool runs.

However, given that the tool is always run manually, the impact of this is not severe. We have patched this by adding a safe flag which defaults to True and an explicit warning for users.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [8b202f08d52e8206af2bdb2112a62fafbc546ec7](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/8b202f08d52e8206af2bdb2112a62fafbc546ec7).

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...

Affected versions

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

### Impact TensorFlow's `saved_model_cli` tool is vulnerable to a code injection as it [calls `eval` on user supplied strings](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/87462bfac761435a46641ff2f10ad0b6e5414a4b/tensorflow/python/tools/saved_model_cli.py#L524-L550) ```python def preprocess_input_exprs_arg_string(input_exprs_str): ... for input_raw in filter(bool, input_exprs_str.split(';')): ... input_key, expr = input_raw.split('=', 1) input_dict[input_key] = eval(expr) ... ``` This can be used by attackers to run arbitrary code on the plaform where the CLI tool runs. However, given that the tool is always run manually, the impact of this is not severe. We have patched this by adding a `safe` flag which defaults to `True` and an explicit warning for users. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [8b202f08d52e8206af2bdb2112a62fafbc546ec7](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/8b202f08d52e8206af2bdb2112a62fafbc546ec7). 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 Omer Kaspi from Vdoo.

CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Severity from
GitHub (reviewed advisory)
Weakness
CWE-78, CWE-94
Also known as
BIT-tensorflow-2021-41228, CVE-2021-41228, PYSEC-2021-420, PYSEC-2021-637, PYSEC-2021-835

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