CVE-2021-41217 json
Null pointer exception when `Exit` node is not preceded by `Enter` op
published 2021-11-05 5 y ago modified 2026-09-08 2 mo ago also BIT-tensorflow-2021-41217 , EUVD-2021-0439 , GHSA-5crj-c72x-m7gq , PYSEC-2021-409 , PYSEC-2021-626 , PYSEC-2021-824
- 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 8%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the process of building the control flow graph for a TensorFlow model is vulnerable to a null pointer exception when nodes that should be paired are not. This occurs because the code assumes that the first node in the pairing (e.g., an `Enter` node) always exists when encountering the second node (e.g., an `Exit` node). When this is not the case, `parent` is `nullptr` so dereferencing it causes a crash. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.
Patch / fix
- pypi tensorflow 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1, 2.7.0
- pypi tensorflow-cpu 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1, 2.7.0
- pypi tensorflow-gpu 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1, 2.7.0
- bitnami tensorflow 2.4.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.1
- google tensorflow 2.4.4, 2.5.2
- tensorflow Arch Linux 2.6.1-1
arch linux advisories AVG-2529
Exploit prediction
0.19% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 8% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- github.com https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-5crj-c72x-m7gq referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
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 | >=2.6.0, <2.6.1 >=2.5.0, <2.5.2 <2.4.4 >=2.7.0rc0, <2.7.0 |
2.6.1 2.5.2 2.4.4 2.7.0 |
| pypi | tensorflow-cpu | >=2.6.0, <2.6.1 >=2.5.0, <2.5.2 <2.4.4 >=2.7.0rc0, <2.7.0 |
2.6.1 2.5.2 2.4.4 2.7.0 |
| pypi | tensorflow-gpu | >=2.6.0, <2.6.1 >=2.5.0, <2.5.2 <2.4.4 >=2.7.0rc0, <2.7.0 |
2.6.1 2.5.2 2.4.4 2.7.0 |
| bitnami | tensorflow | <2.4.4 >=2.5.0, <2.5.2 >=2.6.0, <2.6.1 |
2.4.4 2.5.2 2.6.1 |
Affected products
- tensorflow tensorflow
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-476 NULL Pointer Dereference
References
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/05cbebd3c6bb8f517a158b0155debb8df79017ff
web, patch, third-party-advisory, advisory
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-5crj-c72x-m7gq
web, exploit, patch, third-party-advisory, advisory
-
nvd.nist.gov
/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41217
advisory, web
-
github.com
/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-626.yaml
web
-
github.com
/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-824.yaml
web
-
github.com
/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-409.yaml
web
-
github.com
/tensorflow/tensorflow
package
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2021-41217
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-5crj-c72x-m7gq
- NVD CVE-2021-41217
- OSV BIT-tensorflow-2021-41217
- OSV PYSEC-2021-409
- OSV PYSEC-2021-626
- OSV PYSEC-2021-824
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.