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Severe, 6 weeks1496Projects326

1496 severe, 6 weeks · 326 projects

TensorFlowGHSA-75f6-78jr-4656

Null pointer dereference in `EditDistance`

TensorFlow

CVE-2021-29564 · Published May 21, 2021 · updated Jul 8, 2026

Low2.5
Fix: upgrade to 2.1.4 or later (4 fixed versions below)
GitHub advisory

Impact

An attacker can trigger a null pointer dereference in the implementation of tf.raw_ops.EditDistance:

```python

import tensorflow as tf

hypothesis_indices = tf.constant([247, 247, 247], shape=[1, 3], dtype=tf.int64)

hypothesis_values = tf.constant([-9.9999], shape=[1], dtype=tf.float32)

hypothesis_shape = tf.constant([0, 0, 0], shape=[3], dtype=tf.int64)

truth_indices = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 3], dtype=tf.int64)

truth_values = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)

truth_shape = tf.constant([0, 0, 0], shape=[3], dtype=tf.int64)

tf.raw_ops.EditDistance(

hypothesis_indices=hypothesis_indices, hypothesis_values=hypothesis_values,

hypothesis_shape=hypothesis_shape, truth_indices=truth_indices,

truth_values=truth_values, truth_shape=truth_shape, normalize=True)

`

This is because the [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/79865b542f9ffdc9caeb255631f7c56f1d4b6517/tensorflow/core/kernels/edit_distance_op.cc#L103-L159) has incomplete validation of the input parameters.

In the above scenario, an attacker causes an allocation of an empty tensor for the output:

```cc

OP_REQUIRES_OK(ctx, ctx->allocate_output("output", output_shape, &output));

auto output_t = output->flat<float>();

output_t.setZero();

`

Because output_shape has 0 elements, the result of output->flat<T>() has an empty buffer, so calling setZero would...

Affected versions

PackageAffectedFixed in
tensorflow
PyPI
< 2.1.42.1.4
>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.32.2.3
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.32.3.3
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.22.4.2
Details and references

### Impact An attacker can trigger a null pointer dereference in the implementation of `tf.raw_ops.EditDistance`: ```python import tensorflow as tf hypothesis_indices = tf.constant([247, 247, 247], shape=[1, 3], dtype=tf.int64) hypothesis_values = tf.constant([-9.9999], shape=[1], dtype=tf.float32) hypothesis_shape = tf.constant([0, 0, 0], shape=[3], dtype=tf.int64) truth_indices = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 3], dtype=tf.int64) truth_values = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32) truth_shape = tf.constant([0, 0, 0], shape=[3], dtype=tf.int64) tf.raw_ops.EditDistance( hypothesis_indices=hypothesis_indices, hypothesis_values=hypothesis_values, hypothesis_shape=hypothesis_shape, truth_indices=truth_indices, truth_values=truth_values, truth_shape=truth_shape, normalize=True) ``` This is because the [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/79865b542f9ffdc9caeb255631f7c56f1d4b6517/tensorflow/core/kernels/edit_distance_op.cc#L103-L159) has incomplete validation of the input parameters. In the above scenario, an attacker causes an allocation of an empty tensor for the output: ```cc OP_REQUIRES_OK(ctx, ctx->allocate_output("output", output_shape, &output)); auto output_t = output->flat<float>(); output_t.setZero(); ``` Because `output_shape` has 0 elements, the result of `output->flat<T>()` has an empty buffer, so calling `setZero` would result in a null dereference. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [f4c364a5d6880557f6f5b6eb5cee2c407f0186b3](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/f4c364a5d6880557f6f5b6eb5cee2c407f0186b3). 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 Yakun Zhang and Ying Wang of Baidu X-Team.

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-2021-29564, CVE-2021-29564, PYSEC-2021-201, PYSEC-2021-492, PYSEC-2021-690

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