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TensorFlowGHSA-xmq7-7fxm-rr79

Denial of Service in Tensorflow

TensorFlow

CVE-2020-15203 · Published Sep 25, 2020 · updated Jul 8, 2026

High7.5
Fix: upgrade to 1.15.4 or later (5 fixed versions below)
GitHub advisory

Impact

By controlling the fill argument of [tf.strings.as_string](https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/strings/as_string), a malicious attacker is able to trigger a format string vulnerability due to the way the internal format use in a printf call is constructed: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/as_string_op.cc#L68-L74

This can result in unexpected output:

```python

In [1]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='-')

Out[1]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['1234 '], dtype=object)>

In [2]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='+')

Out[2]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array([' +1234'], dtype=object)>

In [3]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="h")

Out[3]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['%6d'], dtype=object)>

In [4]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="d")

Out[4]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['12346d'], dtype=object)>

In [5]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="o")

Out[5]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['23226d'], dtype=object)>

In [6]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="x")

Out[6]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['4d26d'], dtype=object)>

In [7]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6,...

Affected versions

PackageAffectedFixed in
tensorflow
PyPI
< 1.15.41.15.4
>= 2.0.0, < 2.0.32.0.3
>= 2.1.0, < 2.1.22.1.2
>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.12.2.1
>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.12.3.1
Details and references

### Impact By controlling the `fill` argument of [`tf.strings.as_string`](https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/strings/as_string), a malicious attacker is able to trigger a format string vulnerability due to the way the internal format use in a `printf` call is constructed: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/as_string_op.cc#L68-L74 This can result in unexpected output: ```python In [1]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='-') Out[1]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['1234 '], dtype=object)> In [2]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='+') Out[2]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array([' +1234'], dtype=object)> In [3]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="h") Out[3]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['%6d'], dtype=object)> In [4]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="d") Out[4]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['12346d'], dtype=object)> In [5]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="o") Out[5]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['23226d'], dtype=object)> In [6]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="x") Out[6]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['4d26d'], dtype=object)> In [7]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="g") Out[7]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['8.67458e-3116d'], dtype=object)> In [8]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="a") Out[8]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['0x0.00ff7eebb4d4p-10226d'], dtype=object)> In [9]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="c") Out[9]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['\xd26d'], dtype=object)> In [10]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="p") Out[10]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['0x4d26d'], dtype=object)> In [11]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='m') Out[11]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['Success6d'], dtype=object)> ``` However, passing in `n` or `s` results in segmentation fault. ### Patches We have patched the issue in 33be22c65d86256e6826666662e40dbdfe70ee83 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.

CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Severity from
GitHub (reviewed advisory)
Weakness
CWE-134, CWE-20
Also known as
BIT-tensorflow-2020-15203, CVE-2020-15203, PYSEC-2020-126, PYSEC-2020-283, PYSEC-2020-318

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