CVE-2021-29552: Tensorflow CHECK-failure Vulnerability

LOW
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jhq9-wm9m-cf89
Share
CVSS 2.5
CWE-617
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-29552 is a LOW (CVSS 2.5) check-failure vulnerability (CWE-617: Reachable Assertion) affecting Tensorflow libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves check-failure in `unsortedsegmentjoin`. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2.

CVE-2021-29552 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-29552
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jhq9-wm9m-cf89
Severity LOW
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 2.5
CWE Classification CWE-617: Reachable Assertion
Affected Product Tensorflow
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 2.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability Low (A:L)

How to Fix CVE-2021-29552

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Tensorflow dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

tensorflow fixed: 2.1.4 
pip install tensorflow>=2.1.4
tensorflow fixed: 2.2.3 
pip install tensorflow>=2.2.3
tensorflow fixed: 2.3.3 
pip install tensorflow>=2.3.3
tensorflow fixed: 2.4.2 
pip install tensorflow>=2.4.2
tensorflow-cpu fixed: 2.1.4 
pip install tensorflow-cpu>=2.1.4
tensorflow-cpu fixed: 2.2.3 
pip install tensorflow-cpu>=2.2.3
tensorflow-cpu fixed: 2.3.3 
pip install tensorflow-cpu>=2.3.3
tensorflow-cpu fixed: 2.4.2 
pip install tensorflow-cpu>=2.4.2
tensorflow-gpu fixed: 2.1.4 
pip install tensorflow-gpu>=2.1.4
tensorflow-gpu fixed: 2.2.3 
pip install tensorflow-gpu>=2.2.3
tensorflow-gpu fixed: 2.3.3 
pip install tensorflow-gpu>=2.3.3
tensorflow-gpu fixed: 2.4.2 
pip install tensorflow-gpu>=2.4.2
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show tensorflow

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2021-29552, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show tensorflow

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Tensorflow in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.1.4), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show tensorflow command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-617: Reachable Assertion, where the product contains an assert() or similar statement that can be triggered by an attacker, which leads to an application exit or other behavior that is more severe than necessary. In Tensorflow, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Impact An attacker can cause a denial of service by controlling the values of `num_segments` tensor argument for `UnsortedSegmentJoin`: ```python import tensorflow as tf inputs = tf.constant([], dtype=tf.string) segment_ids = tf.constant([], dtype=tf.int32) num_segments = tf.constant([], dtype=tf.int32) separator = '' tf.raw_ops.UnsortedSegmentJoin( inputs=inputs, segment_ids=segment_ids, num_segments=num_segments, separator=separator) ``` This is because the [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/a2a607db15c7cd01d754d37e5448d72a13491bdb/tensorflow/core/kernels/unsorted_segment_join_op.cc#L92-L93) assumes that the `num_segments` tensor is a valid scalar: ```cc const Tensor& num_segments_tensor = context->input(2); auto num_segments = num_segments_tensor.scalar<NUM_SEGMENTS_TYPE>()(); ``` Since the tensor is empty the `CHECK` involved in `.scalar<T>()()` that checks that the number of elements is exactly 1 will be invalidated and this would result in process termination. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [704866eabe03a9aeda044ec91a8d0c83fc1ebdbe](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/704866eabe03a9aeda044ec91a8d0c83fc1ebdbe). 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](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. ### Attribution This vulnerability has been reported by Ying Wang and Yakun Zhang of Baidu X-Team.

CVE-2021-29552 Affected Tensorflow Versions

12 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.1.42.2.32.3.32.4.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
tensorflow
pypi/tensorflow
PyPI
< 2.1.4
2.1.4
tensorflow
pypi/tensorflow
PyPI
≥ 2.2.0
< 2.2.3
2.2.3
tensorflow
pypi/tensorflow
PyPI
≥ 2.3.0
< 2.3.3
2.3.3
tensorflow
pypi/tensorflow
PyPI
≥ 2.4.0
< 2.4.2
2.4.2
tensorflow-cpu
pypi/tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
< 2.1.4
2.1.4
tensorflow-cpu
pypi/tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
≥ 2.2.0
< 2.2.3
2.2.3
tensorflow-cpu
pypi/tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
≥ 2.3.0
< 2.3.3
2.3.3
tensorflow-cpu
pypi/tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
≥ 2.4.0
< 2.4.2
2.4.2
tensorflow-gpu
pypi/tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
< 2.1.4
2.1.4
tensorflow-gpu
pypi/tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
≥ 2.2.0
< 2.2.3
2.2.3
tensorflow-gpu
pypi/tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
≥ 2.3.0
< 2.3.3
2.3.3
tensorflow-gpu
pypi/tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
≥ 2.4.0
< 2.4.2
2.4.2

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-jhq9-wm9m-cf89
NVD — CVE-2021-29552 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29552
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/704866eabe03a9aeda044ec91a8d0c83fc1ebdbe
Tensorflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-480.yaml
Tensorflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-678.yaml
Tensorflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-189.yaml
Tensorflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-29552?
CVE-2021-29552 is a security vulnerability in Tensorflow involving CHECK-failure in `UnsortedSegmentJoin` under CWE-617: Reachable Assertion.
Which Tensorflow versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 across affected packages: tensorflow, tensorflow-cpu, tensorflow-gpu.
What version fixes CVE-2021-29552?
Upgrading to 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is tensorflow affected?
Yes, tensorflow is affected in releases prior to 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 or later.
Is tensorflow-cpu affected?
Yes, tensorflow-cpu is affected in releases prior to 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, 2.4.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-29552?
CVE-2021-29552 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 2.5 (LOW) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-29552?
CVE-2021-29552 is classified under CWE-617: Reachable Assertion (The product contains an assert() or similar statement that can be triggered by an attacker, which leads to an application exit or other behavior that is more severe than necessary.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2021-29552?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show tensorflow'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
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  "published" : "2021-05-21T14:23:48Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-29552" ],
  "summary" : "CHECK-failure in `UnsortedSegmentJoin`",
  "details" : "### Impact\nAn attacker can cause a denial of service by controlling the values of `num_segments` tensor argument for `UnsortedSegmentJoin`:\n\n```python\nimport tensorflow as tf\n\ninputs = tf.constant([], dtype=tf.string)\nsegment_ids = tf.constant([], dtype=tf.int32)\nnum_segments = tf.constant([], dtype=tf.int32)\nseparator = ''\n\ntf.raw_ops.UnsortedSegmentJoin(\n  inputs=inputs, segment_ids=segment_ids,\n  num_segments=num_segments, separator=separator)\n```\n\nThis is because the [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/a2a607db15c7cd01d754d37e5448d72a13491bdb/tensorflow/core/kernels/unsorted_segment_join_op.cc#L92-L93) assumes that the `num_segments` tensor is a valid scalar:\n\n```cc\nconst Tensor& num_segments_tensor = context->input(2);\nauto num_segments = num_segments_tensor.scalar<NUM_SEGMENTS_TYPE>()();\n```\n\nSince the tensor is empty the `CHECK` involved in `.scalar<T>()()` that checks that the number of elements is exactly 1 will be invalidated and this would result in process termination.\n\n### Patches\nWe have patched the issue in GitHub commit [704866eabe03a9aeda044ec91a8d0c83fc1ebdbe](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/704866eabe03a9aeda044ec91a8d0c83fc1ebdbe).\n\nThe 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.\n\n### For more information\nPlease 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.\n\n### Attribution\nThis vulnerability has been reported by Ying Wang and Yakun Zhang of Baidu X-Team.",
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}