Integer overflow in TFLite memory allocation
Medium7.1CVE-2021-29605 · Published May 21, 2021 · updated Sep 10, 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 The TFLite code for allocating `TFLiteIntArray`s is [vulnerable to an integer overflow issue](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/4ceffae632721e52bf3501b736e4fe9d1221cdfa/tensorflow/lite/c/common.c#L24-L27): ```cc int TfLiteIntArrayGetSizeInBytes(int size) { static TfLiteIntArray dummy; return sizeof(dummy) + sizeof(dummy.data[0]) * size; } ``` An attacker can craft a model such that the `size` multiplier is so large that the return value overflows the `int` datatype and becomes negative. In turn, this results in [invalid value being given to `malloc`](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/4ceffae632721e52bf3501b736e4fe9d1221cdfa/tensorflow/lite/c/common.c#L47-L52): ```cc TfLiteIntArray* TfLiteIntArrayCreate(int size) { TfLiteIntArray* ret = (TfLiteIntArray*)malloc(TfLiteIntArrayGetSizeInBytes(size)); ret->size = size; return ret; } ``` In this case, `ret->size` would dereference an invalid pointer. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [7c8cc4ec69cd348e44ad6a2699057ca88faad3e5](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/7c8cc4ec69cd348e44ad6a2699057ca88faad3e5). 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:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
- Severity from
- GitHub (reviewed advisory)
- Weakness
- CWE-190
- Also known as
- BIT-tensorflow-2021-29605, CVE-2021-29605, PYSEC-2021-242, PYSEC-2021-533, PYSEC-2021-731
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-jf7h-7m85-w2v2
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29605
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/7c8cc4ec69cd348e44ad6a2699057ca88faad3e5
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-533.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-731.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-242.yaml
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/4ceffae632721e52bf3501b736e4fe9d1221cdfa/tensorflow/lite/c/common.c#L24-L27
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 |