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Severe, 6 weeks1496Projects326

1496 severe, 6 weeks · 326 projects

TensorFlowGHSA-wp77-4gmm-7cq8

Incorrect validation of `SaveV2` inputs

TensorFlow

CVE-2021-37648 · 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 code for tf.raw_ops.SaveV2 does not properly validate the inputs and an attacker can trigger a null pointer dereference:

```python

import tensorflow as tf

tf.raw_ops.SaveV2(

prefix=['tensorflow'],

tensor_name=['v'],

shape_and_slices=[],

tensors=[1,2,3])

`

The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8d72537c6abf5a44103b57b9c2e22c14f5f49698/tensorflow/core/kernels/save_restore_v2_ops.cc) uses ValidateInputs to check that the input arguments are valid. This validation would have caught the illegal state represented by the reproducer above.

However, the validation uses OP_REQUIRES which translates to setting the Status object of the current OpKernelContext to an error status, followed by an empty return statement which just terminates the execution of the function it is present in. However, this does not mean that the kernel execution is finalized: instead, execution continues from the next line in Compute that follows the call to ValidateInputs. This is equivalent to lacking the validation.

Patches

We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [9728c60e136912a12d99ca56e106b7cce7af5986](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/9728c60e136912a12d99ca56e106b7cce7af5986).

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...

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 code for `tf.raw_ops.SaveV2` does not properly validate the inputs and an attacker can trigger a null pointer dereference: ```python import tensorflow as tf tf.raw_ops.SaveV2( prefix=['tensorflow'], tensor_name=['v'], shape_and_slices=[], tensors=[1,2,3]) ``` The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8d72537c6abf5a44103b57b9c2e22c14f5f49698/tensorflow/core/kernels/save_restore_v2_ops.cc) uses `ValidateInputs` to check that the input arguments are valid. This validation would have caught the illegal state represented by the reproducer above. However, the validation uses `OP_REQUIRES` which translates to setting the `Status` object of the current `OpKernelContext` to an error status, followed by an empty `return` statement which just terminates the execution of the function it is present in. However, this does not mean that the kernel execution is finalized: instead, execution continues from the next line in `Compute` that follows the call to `ValidateInputs`. This is equivalent to lacking the validation. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [9728c60e136912a12d99ca56e106b7cce7af5986](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/9728c60e136912a12d99ca56e106b7cce7af5986). 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-2021-37648, CVE-2021-37648, PYSEC-2021-270, PYSEC-2021-561, PYSEC-2021-759

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