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TensorFlowGHSA-7xwj-5r4v-429p

NPE in TFLite

TensorFlow

CVE-2021-37681 · Published Aug 25, 2021 · updated Jul 8, 2026

High7.8
Fix: upgrade to 2.3.4 or later (3 fixed versions below)
GitHub advisory

Impact

The implementation of SVDF in TFLite is [vulnerable to a null pointer error](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/460e000de3a83278fb00b61a16d161b1964f15f4/tensorflow/lite/kernels/svdf.cc#L300-L313):

```cc

TfLiteTensor* state = GetVariableInput(context, node, kStateTensor);

// ...

GetTensorData<float>(state)

`

The [GetVariableInput function](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/460e000de3a83278fb00b61a16d161b1964f15f4/tensorflow/lite/kernels/kernel_util.cc#L115-L119) can return a null pointer but GetTensorData assumes that the argument is always a valid tensor.

```cc

TfLiteTensor* GetVariableInput(TfLiteContext* context, const TfLiteNode* node,

int index) {

TfLiteTensor* tensor = GetMutableInput(context, node, index);

return tensor->is_variable ? tensor : nullptr;

}

`

Furthermore, because GetVariableInput calls [GetMutableInput](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/460e000de3a83278fb00b61a16d161b1964f15f4/tensorflow/lite/kernels/kernel_util.cc#L82-L90) which might return nullptr, the tensor->is_variable expression can also trigger a null pointer exception.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [5b048e87e4e55990dae6b547add4dae59f4e1c76](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/5b048e87e4e55990dae6b547add4dae59f4e1c76).

The fix will be included in...

Affected versions

PackageAffectedFixed in
tensorflow
PyPI
< 2.3.42.3.4
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.32.4.3
>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.12.5.1
Details and references

### Impact The implementation of SVDF in TFLite is [vulnerable to a null pointer error](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/460e000de3a83278fb00b61a16d161b1964f15f4/tensorflow/lite/kernels/svdf.cc#L300-L313): ```cc TfLiteTensor* state = GetVariableInput(context, node, kStateTensor); // ... GetTensorData<float>(state) ``` The [`GetVariableInput` function](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/460e000de3a83278fb00b61a16d161b1964f15f4/tensorflow/lite/kernels/kernel_util.cc#L115-L119) can return a null pointer but `GetTensorData` assumes that the argument is always a valid tensor. ```cc TfLiteTensor* GetVariableInput(TfLiteContext* context, const TfLiteNode* node, int index) { TfLiteTensor* tensor = GetMutableInput(context, node, index); return tensor->is_variable ? tensor : nullptr; } ``` Furthermore, because `GetVariableInput` calls [`GetMutableInput`](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/460e000de3a83278fb00b61a16d161b1964f15f4/tensorflow/lite/kernels/kernel_util.cc#L82-L90) which might return `nullptr`, the `tensor->is_variable` expression can also trigger a null pointer exception. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [5b048e87e4e55990dae6b547add4dae59f4e1c76](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/5b048e87e4e55990dae6b547add4dae59f4e1c76). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.6.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.5.1, TensorFlow 2.4.3, and TensorFlow 2.3.4, 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:H/I:H/A:H
Severity from
GitHub (reviewed advisory)
Weakness
CWE-476
Also known as
BIT-tensorflow-2021-37681, CVE-2021-37681, PYSEC-2021-303, PYSEC-2021-594, PYSEC-2021-792

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