CVE-2021-37686 json
Infinite loop in TensorFlow Lite
published 2021-08-12 5 y ago modified 2026-09-08 2 mo ago also BIT-tensorflow-2021-37686 , EUVD-2021-0412 , GHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9 , PYSEC-2021-308 , PYSEC-2021-599 , PYSEC-2021-797
- cvss
- 5.5
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.2%
- EPSS 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 6%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the strided slice implementation in TFLite has a logic bug which can allow an attacker to trigger an infinite loop. This arises from newly introduced support for [ellipsis in axis definition](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/149562d49faa709ea80df1d99fc41d005b81082a/tensorflow/lite/kernels/strided_slice.cc#L103-L122). An attacker can craft a model such that `ellipsis_end_idx` is smaller than `i` (e.g., always negative). In this case, the inner loop does not increase `i` and the `continue` statement causes execution to skip over the preincrement at the end of the outer loop. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695. TensorFlow 2.6.0 is the only affected version.
Patch / fix
- pypi tensorflow 2.3.4, 2.4.3, 2.6.0rc2
- pypi tensorflow-cpu 2.3.4, 2.4.3, 2.6.0rc2
- pypi tensorflow-gpu 2.3.4, 2.4.3, 2.6.0rc2
- bitnami tensorflow 2.3.4, 2.4.3, 2.5.1
- google tensorflow 2.3.4, 2.4.3
- tensorflow2 Package Hub 15 SP3, openSUSE Leap 15.3 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
- bazel3.7 Package Hub 15 SP3, openSUSE Leap 15.3 3.7.2-bp153.4.1
- tensorflow2-lite Package Hub 15 SP3, openSUSE Leap 15.3 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
- bazel-skylib1.0.3 Package Hub 15 SP3, openSUSE Leap 15.3 1.0.3-bp153.2.1
- tensorflow2_2_6_0-gnu-hpc Package Hub 15 SP3, openSUSE Leap 15.3 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
- tensorflow2_2_6_0-gnu-openmpi2-hpc Package Hub 15 SP3, openSUSE Leap 15.3 2.6.0-bp153.2.3.1
opensuse advisories openSUSE-SU-2022:10014-1
- tensorflow Arch Linux 2.5.1-1
arch linux advisories AVG-2292
Exploit prediction
0.17% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 6% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 3.1 | 5.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 5.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
| NVD | 3.1 | 5.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
| NVD | 2.0 | 2.1 | AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P |
| OSV | 3.1 | 5.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
Affected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| pypi | tensorflow | >=2.6.0rc0, <2.6.0rc2 >=2.3.0, <2.3.4 >=2.4.0, <2.4.3 |
2.6.0rc2 2.3.4 2.4.3 |
| pypi | tensorflow-cpu | >=2.6.0rc0, <2.6.0rc2 >=2.3.0, <2.3.4 >=2.4.0, <2.4.3 |
2.6.0rc2 2.3.4 2.4.3 |
| pypi | tensorflow-gpu | >=2.6.0rc0, <2.6.0rc2 >=2.3.0, <2.3.4 >=2.4.0, <2.4.3 |
2.6.0rc2 2.3.4 2.4.3 |
| bitnami | tensorflow | >=2.3.0, <2.3.4 >=2.4.0, <2.4.3 >=2.5.0, <2.5.1 |
2.3.4 2.4.3 2.5.1 |
Affected products
- tensorflow tensorflow
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-835 Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition
References
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695
web, patch, third-party-advisory, advisory
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9
web, third-party-advisory, advisory
-
nvd.nist.gov
/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37686
advisory, web
-
github.com
/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-599.yaml
web
-
github.com
/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-797.yaml
web
-
github.com
/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-308.yaml
web
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow
package
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.3.4
web
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.4.3
web
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.5.1
web
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.6.0
web
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2021-37686
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9
- NVD CVE-2021-37686
- OSV BIT-tensorflow-2021-37686
- OSV PYSEC-2021-308
- OSV PYSEC-2021-599
- OSV PYSEC-2021-797
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.