CVE-2021-29591 json
Stack overflow due to looping TFLite subgraph
published 2021-05-14 5 y ago modified 2026-09-08 2 mo ago also BIT-tensorflow-2021-29591 , EUVD-2021-0332 , GHSA-cwv3-863g-39vx , PYSEC-2021-228 , PYSEC-2021-519 , PYSEC-2021-717
- cvss
- 7.3
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.3%
- EPSS 0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 18%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. TFlite graphs must not have loops between nodes. However, this condition was not checked and an attacker could craft models that would result in infinite loop during evaluation. In certain cases, the infinite loop would be replaced by stack overflow due to too many recursive calls. For example, the `While` implementation(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/106d8f4fb89335a2c52d7c895b7a7485465ca8d9/tensorflow/lite/kernels/while.cc) could be tricked into a scneario where both the body and the loop subgraphs are the same. Evaluating one of the subgraphs means calling the `Eval` function for the other and this quickly exhaust all stack space. 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. 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.
Patch / fix
- pypi tensorflow 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2
- pypi tensorflow-cpu 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2
- pypi tensorflow-gpu 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2
- bitnami tensorflow 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2
- google tensorflow 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2
- tensorflow Arch Linux 2.5.0-1
arch linux advisories AVG-1962
Exploit prediction
0.26% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 18% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- github.com https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-cwv3-863g-39vx referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 3.1 | 7.3 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 7.3 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H |
| NVD | 3.1 | 7.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 2.0 | 4.6 | AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P |
| OSV | 3.1 | 7.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
Affected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| pypi | tensorflow | <2.1.4 >=2.2.0, <2.2.3 >=2.3.0, <2.3.3 >=2.4.0, <2.4.2 |
2.1.4 2.2.3 2.3.3 2.4.2 |
| pypi | tensorflow-cpu | <2.1.4 >=2.2.0, <2.2.3 >=2.3.0, <2.3.3 >=2.4.0, <2.4.2 |
2.1.4 2.2.3 2.3.3 2.4.2 |
| pypi | tensorflow-gpu | <2.1.4 >=2.2.0, <2.2.3 >=2.3.0, <2.3.3 >=2.4.0, <2.4.2 |
2.1.4 2.2.3 2.3.3 2.4.2 |
| bitnami | tensorflow | <2.1.4 >=2.2.0, <2.2.3 >=2.3.0, <2.3.3 >=2.4.0, <2.4.2 |
2.1.4 2.2.3 2.3.3 2.4.2 |
Affected products
- tensorflow tensorflow
Classification
References
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/9c1dc920d8ffb4893d6c9d27d1f039607b326743
web, patch, third-party-advisory, advisory
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/c6173f5fe66cdbab74f4f869311fe6aae2ba35f4
web, patch, third-party-advisory, advisory
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-cwv3-863g-39vx
web, exploit, patch, third-party-advisory, advisory
-
nvd.nist.gov
/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29591
advisory, web
-
github.com
/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-519.yaml
web
-
github.com
/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-717.yaml
web
-
github.com
/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-228.yaml
web
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow
package
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/106d8f4fb89335a2c52d7c895b7a7485465ca8d9/tensorflow/lite/kernels/while.cc
web
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2021-29591
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-cwv3-863g-39vx
- NVD CVE-2021-29591
- OSV BIT-tensorflow-2021-29591
- OSV PYSEC-2021-228
- OSV PYSEC-2021-519
- OSV PYSEC-2021-717
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