Memory exhaustion in Tensorflow
Medium4.3CVE-2022-21733 · Published Feb 10, 2022 · updated Sep 10, 2026
Affected versions
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| tensorflow PyPI | < 2.5.3 | 2.5.3 |
| >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3 | 2.6.3 | |
| >= 2.7.0, < 2.7.1 | 2.7.1 |
Details and references
### Impact The [implementation of `StringNGrams`](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/5100e359aef5c8021f2e71c7b986420b85ce7b3d/tensorflow/core/kernels/string_ngrams_op.cc#L29-L161) can be used to trigger a denial of service attack by causing an OOM condition after an integer overflow: ```python import tensorflow as tf tf.raw_ops.StringNGrams( data=['123456'], data_splits=[0,1], separator='a'*15, ngram_widths=[], left_pad='', right_pad='', pad_width=-5, preserve_short_sequences=True) ``` We are missing a validation on `pad_witdh` and that result in computing a negative value for `ngram_width` which is later used to allocate parts of the output. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [f68fdab93fb7f4ddb4eb438c8fe052753c9413e8](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/f68fdab93fb7f4ddb4eb438c8fe052753c9413e8). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.8.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.7.1, TensorFlow 2.6.3, and TensorFlow 2.5.3, 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 Yu Tian of Qihoo 360 AIVul Team.
- CVSS 3.1
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
- Severity from
- GitHub (reviewed advisory)
- Weakness
- CWE-190, CWE-400
- Also known as
- BIT-tensorflow-2022-21733, CVE-2022-21733, PYSEC-2022-112, PYSEC-2022-57, PYSEC-2026-3145
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-98j8-c9q4-r38g
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21733
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/f68fdab93fb7f4ddb4eb438c8fe052753c9413e8
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2022-57.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2022-112.yaml
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/5100e359aef5c8021f2e71c7b986420b85ce7b3d/tensorflow/core/kernels/string_ngrams_op.cc#L29-L161
More TensorFlow advisories
All TensorFlow| Date | Advisory | Severity | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 92022 | Use after free in `DecodePng` kernel CVE-2022-23584High7.6fixed in 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 | High7.6 | 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 |
| Feb 92022 | Out of bounds write in Tensorflow CVE-2022-23566High8.8fixed in 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 | High8.8 | 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 |
| Feb 92022 | Reachable Assertion in Tensorflow CVE-2022-23564High6.5fixed in 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 | High6.5 | 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 |
| Feb 92022 | Insecure temporary file in Tensorflow CVE-2022-23563High7.1fixed in 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 | High7.1 | 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 |
| Feb 92022 | Integer overflow in Tensorflow CVE-2022-23562High7.6fixed in 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 | High7.6 | 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 |
| Feb 92022 | Out of bounds write in TFLite CVE-2022-23561High8.8fixed in 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 | High8.8 | 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 |