Incomplete validation in `SparseAdd`
Medium5.3CVE-2021-29609 · Published May 21, 2021 · updated Jul 8, 2026
### Impact Incomplete validation in `SparseAdd` results in allowing attackers to exploit undefined behavior (dereferencing null pointers) as well as write outside of bounds of heap allocated data: ```python import tensorflow as tf a_indices = tf.zeros([10, 97], dtype=tf.int64) a_values = tf.zeros([10], dtype=tf.int64) a_shape = tf.zeros([0], dtype=tf.int64) b_indices = tf.zeros([0, 0], dtype=tf.int64) b_values = tf.zeros([0], dtype=tf.int64) b_shape = tf.zeros([0], dtype=tf.int64) thresh = 0 tf.raw_ops.SparseAdd(a_indices=a_indices, a_values=a_values, a_shape=a_shape, b_indices=b_indices, b_values=b_values, b_shape=b_shape, thresh=thresh) ``` The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_add_op.cc) has a large set of validation for the two sparse tensor inputs (6 tensors in total), but does not validate that the tensors are not empty or that the second dimension of `*_indices` matches the size of corresponding `*_shape`. This allows attackers to send tensor triples t...
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 Incomplete validation in `SparseAdd` results in allowing attackers to exploit undefined behavior (dereferencing null pointers) as well as write outside of bounds of heap allocated data: ```python import tensorflow as tf a_indices = tf.zeros([10, 97], dtype=tf.int64) a_values = tf.zeros([10], dtype=tf.int64) a_shape = tf.zeros([0], dtype=tf.int64) b_indices = tf.zeros([0, 0], dtype=tf.int64) b_values = tf.zeros([0], dtype=tf.int64) b_shape = tf.zeros([0], dtype=tf.int64) thresh = 0 tf.raw_ops.SparseAdd(a_indices=a_indices, a_values=a_values, a_shape=a_shape, b_indices=b_indices, b_values=b_values, b_shape=b_shape, thresh=thresh) ``` The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/656e7673b14acd7835dc778867f84916c6d1cac2/tensorflow/core/kernels/sparse_add_op.cc) has a large set of validation for the two sparse tensor inputs (6 tensors in total), but does not validate that the tensors are not empty or that the second dimension of `*_indices` matches the size of corresponding `*_shape`. This allows attackers to send tensor triples that represent invalid sparse tensors to abuse code assumptions that are not protected by validation. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [6fd02f44810754ae7481838b6a67c5df7f909ca3](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/6fd02f44810754ae7481838b6a67c5df7f909ca3) followed by GitHub commit [41727ff06111117bdf86b37db198217fd7a143cc](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/41727ff06111117bdf86b37db198217fd7a143cc). 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:L/A:H
- Severity from
- GitHub (reviewed advisory)
- Weakness
- CWE-665, CWE-787
- Also known as
- BIT-tensorflow-2021-29609, CVE-2021-29609, PYSEC-2021-246, PYSEC-2021-537, PYSEC-2021-735
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-cjc7-49v2-jp64
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29609
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/41727ff06111117bdf86b37db198217fd7a143cc
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/6fd02f44810754ae7481838b6a67c5df7f909ca3
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-537.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-735.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-246.yaml
More TensorFlow advisories
All TensorFlow| Date | Advisory | Severity | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 212021 | Segfault in `tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput` | Low2.5 | 2.1.4+3 more |
| May 212021 | Crash in `tf.transpose` with complex inputs | Low2.5 | 2.1.4+3 more |
| May 212021 | Crash in `tf.strings.substr` due to `CHECK`-fail | Low2.5 | 2.1.4+3 more |
| May 212021 | Null dereference in Grappler's `TrySimplify` | Low2.5 | 2.1.4+3 more |
| May 212021 | Stack overflow in `ParseAttrValue` with nested tensors | Low2.5 | 2.1.4+3 more |
| May 212021 | Interpreter crash from `tf.io.decode_raw` | Medium7.1 | 2.1.4+3 more |