Session operations in eager mode lead to null pointer dereferences
Low2.5CVE-2021-29518 · Published May 21, 2021 · updated Jul 8, 2026
Affected versions
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| tensorflow PyPI | < 2.1.4 | 2.1.4 |
| >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3 | 2.2.3 | |
| >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3 | 2.3.3 | |
| >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2 | 2.4.2 |
Details and references
### Impact In eager mode (default in TF 2.0 and later), session operations are invalid. However, users could still call the raw ops associated with them and trigger a null pointer dereference: ```python import tensorflow as tf tf.raw_ops.GetSessionTensor(handle=['\x12\x1a\x07'],dtype=4) ``` ```python import tensorflow as tf tf.raw_ops.DeleteSessionTensor(handle=['\x12\x1a\x07']) ``` The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/eebb96c2830d48597d055d247c0e9aebaea94cd5/tensorflow/core/kernels/session_ops.cc#L104) dereferences the session state pointer without checking if it is valid: ```cc OP_REQUIRES_OK(ctx, ctx->session_state()->GetTensor(name, &val)); ``` Thus, in eager mode, `ctx->session_state()` is nullptr and the call of the member function is undefined behavior. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [ff70c47a396ef1e3cb73c90513da4f5cb71bebba](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/ff70c47a396ef1e3cb73c90513da4f5cb71bebba). 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](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:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
- Severity from
- GitHub (reviewed advisory)
- Weakness
- CWE-476
- Also known as
- BIT-tensorflow-2021-29518, CVE-2021-29518, PYSEC-2021-155, PYSEC-2021-446, PYSEC-2021-644
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-62gx-355r-9fhg
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29518
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/ff70c47a396ef1e3cb73c90513da4f5cb71bebba
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-446.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-644.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-155.yaml
More TensorFlow advisories
All TensorFlow| Date | Advisory | Severity | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 212021 | Heap buffer overflow in `RaggedBinCount` CVE-2021-29512Low2.5fixed in 2.3.3, 2.4.2 | Low2.5 | 2.3.3, 2.4.2 |
| May 212021 | Type confusion during tensor casts lead to dereferencing null pointers CVE-2021-29513Low2.5fixed in 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 | Low2.5 | 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 |
| May 212021 | Heap out of bounds write in `RaggedBinCount` CVE-2021-29514Low2.5fixed in 2.3.3, 2.4.2 | Low2.5 | 2.3.3, 2.4.2 |
| May 212021 | Reference binding to null pointer in `MatrixDiag*` ops CVE-2021-29515Low2.5fixed in 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 | Low2.5 | 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 |
| May 212021 | Null pointer dereference via invalid Ragged Tensors CVE-2021-29516Low2.5fixed in 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 | Low2.5 | 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 |
| May 212021 | Division by zero in `Conv3D` CVE-2021-29517Low2.5fixed in 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 | Low2.5 | 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 |