Null pointer dereference in tensorflow-lite
High5.9CVE-2020-15209 · Published Sep 25, 2020 · updated Jul 8, 2026
Affected versions
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| tensorflow PyPI | < 1.15.4 | 1.15.4 |
| >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.3 | 2.0.3 | |
| >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.2 | 2.1.2 | |
| >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.1 | 2.2.1 | |
| >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1 | 2.3.1 |
Details and references
### Impact A crafted TFLite model can force a node to have as input a tensor backed by a `nullptr` buffer. This can be achieved by changing a buffer index in the flatbuffer serialization to convert a read-only tensor to a read-write one. The runtime assumes that these buffers are written to before a possible read, hence they are initialized with `nullptr`: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/lite/core/subgraph.cc#L1224-L1227 However, by changing the buffer index for a tensor and implicitly converting that tensor to be a read-write one, as there is nothing in the model that writes to it, we get a null pointer dereference. ### Patches We have patched the issue in 0b5662bc and will release patch releases for all versions between 1.15 and 2.3. We recommend users to upgrade to TensorFlow 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 2.3.1. ### 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 but was also discovered through variant analysis of [GHSA-cvpc-8phh-8f45](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-cvpc-8phh-8f45).
- CVSS 3.1
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- Severity from
- GitHub (reviewed advisory)
- Weakness
- CWE-476
- Also known as
- BIT-tensorflow-2020-15209, CVE-2020-15209, PYSEC-2020-132, PYSEC-2020-289, PYSEC-2020-324
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-qh32-6jjc-qprm
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15209
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/0b5662bc2be13a8c8f044d925d87fb6e56247cd8
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2020-289.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2020-324.yaml
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2020-132.yaml
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.3.1
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00065.html
More TensorFlow advisories
All TensorFlow| Date | Advisory | Severity | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 252020 | Segfault in Tensorflow CVE-2020-15190Medium5.3fixed in 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 | Medium5.3 | 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 |
| Sep 252020 | Memory leak in Tensorflow CVE-2020-15192Medium4.3fixed in 2.2.1, 2.3.1 | Medium4.3 | 2.2.1, 2.3.1 |
| Sep 252020 | Denial of Service in Tensorflow CVE-2020-15194Medium5.3fixed in 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 | Medium5.3 | 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 |
| Sep 252020 | Heap buffer overflow in Tensorflow CVE-2020-15196Medium8.5fixed in 2.3.1 | Medium8.5 | 2.3.1 |
| Sep 252020 | Heap buffer overflow in Tensorflow CVE-2020-15198Medium5.4fixed in 2.3.1 | Medium5.4 | 2.3.1 |
| Sep 252020 | Denial of Service in Tensorflow CVE-2020-15199High5.9fixed in 2.3.1 | High5.9 | 2.3.1 |