Infinite loop in TFLite
Impact
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:
for (int i = 0; i < effective_dims;) {
if ((1 << i) & op_context->params->ellipsis_mask) {
// ...
int ellipsis_end_idx =
std::min(i + 1 + num_add_axis + op_context->input_dims - begin_count,
effective_dims);
// ...
for (; i < ellipsis_end_idx; ++i) {
// ...
}
continue;
}
// ...
++i;
}
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.
Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695.
The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.6.0. This is the only affected version.
For more information
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Attribution
This vulnerability has been reported by members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | tensorflow | >= 2.6.0rc0, < 2.6.0rc2 | 2.6.0rc2 |
| Python (PyPI) | tensorflow-cpu | >= 2.6.0rc0, < 2.6.0rc2 | 2.6.0rc2 |
| Python (PyPI) | tensorflow-gpu | >= 2.6.0rc0, < 2.6.0rc2 | 2.6.0rc2 |
References
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/dfa22b348b70bb89d6d6ec0ff53973bacb4f4695
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37686
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-599.yaml
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-797.yaml
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-308.yaml
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.3.4
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.4.3
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.5.1
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.6.0
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-835- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
tensorflow, tensorflow-cpu, tensorflow-gpu- Disclosed
- 12.08.2021
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 13:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-308 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-599 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2021-797 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-mhhc-q96p-mfm9 - 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
-
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