CVE-2020-15196: Tensorflow Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-pg59-2f92-5cph
Share
CVSS 8.5
CWE-125 CWE-122 CWE-119
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-15196 is a MODERATE (CVSS 8.5) heap buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read) affecting Tensorflow libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves heap buffer overflow in tensorflow. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.1.

CVE-2020-15196 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-15196
GHSA Identifier GHSA-pg59-2f92-5cph
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.5
CWE Classification CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read
Affected Product Tensorflow
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2020-15196

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: 2.3.1 
pip install tensorflow>=2.3.1
tensorflow-cpu fixed: 2.3.1 
pip install tensorflow-cpu>=2.3.1
tensorflow-gpu fixed: 2.3.1 
pip install tensorflow-gpu>=2.3.1
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-2020-15196, 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 2.3.1), 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-125: Out-of-bounds Read, where the product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. 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 The `SparseCountSparseOutput` and `RaggedCountSparseOutput` implementations don't validate that the `weights` tensor has the same shape as the data. The check exists for `DenseCountSparseOutput`, where both tensors are fully specified: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L110-L117 In the sparse and ragged count weights are still accessed in parallel with the data: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L201 But, since there is no validation, a user passing fewer weights than the values for the tensors can generate a read from outside the bounds of the heap buffer allocated for the weights. ### Patches We have patched the issue in 3cbb917b4714766030b28eba9fb41bb97ce9ee02 and will release a patch release. We recommend users to upgrade to TensorFlow 2.3.1. ### 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 is a variant of [GHSA-p5f8-gfw5-33w4](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-p5f8-gfw5-33w4)

CVE-2020-15196 Affected Tensorflow Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
tensorflow
pypi/tensorflow
PyPI
≥ 2.3.0
< 2.3.1
All 1 versions
2.3.0
2.3.1
tensorflow-cpu
pypi/tensorflow-cpu
PyPI
≥ 2.3.0
< 2.3.1
All 1 versions
2.3.0
2.3.1
tensorflow-gpu
pypi/tensorflow-gpu
PyPI
≥ 2.3.0
< 2.3.1
All 1 versions
2.3.0
2.3.1

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-pg59-2f92-5cph
NVD — CVE-2020-15196 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15196
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/3cbb917b4714766030b28eba9fb41bb97ce9ee02
Tensorflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2020-276.yaml
Tensorflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2020-311.yaml
Tensorflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2020-119.yaml
Tensorflow Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow
Tensorflow Release RELEASE
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.3.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-15196?
CVE-2020-15196 is a security vulnerability in Tensorflow involving Heap buffer overflow in Tensorflow under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read.
Which Tensorflow versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.1 across affected packages: tensorflow, tensorflow-cpu, tensorflow-gpu.
What version fixes CVE-2020-15196?
Upgrading to 2.3.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is tensorflow affected?
Yes, tensorflow is affected in releases prior to 2.3.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.1 or later.
Is tensorflow-cpu affected?
Yes, tensorflow-cpu is affected in releases prior to 2.3.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-15196?
CVE-2020-15196 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-15196?
CVE-2020-15196 is classified under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read (The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2020-15196?
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 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-pg59-2f92-5cph",
  "modified" : "2024-10-28T20:09:55Z",
  "published" : "2020-09-25T18:28:21Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-15196" ],
  "summary" : "Heap buffer overflow in Tensorflow",
  "details" : "### Impact\nThe `SparseCountSparseOutput` and `RaggedCountSparseOutput` implementations don't validate that the `weights` tensor has the same shape as the data. The check exists for `DenseCountSparseOutput`, where both tensors are fully specified:\nhttps://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L110-L117\n\nIn the sparse and ragged count weights are still accessed in parallel with the data:\nhttps://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L199-L201\n\nBut, since there is no validation, a user passing fewer weights than the values for the tensors can generate a read from outside the bounds of the heap buffer allocated for the weights.\n\n### Patches\nWe have patched the issue in 3cbb917b4714766030b28eba9fb41bb97ce9ee02 and will release a patch release.\n\nWe recommend users to upgrade to TensorFlow 2.3.1.\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 is a variant of [GHSA-p5f8-gfw5-33w4](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-p5f8-gfw5-33w4)",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "tensorflow"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "versions" : [ "2.3.0" ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "tensorflow-cpu"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "versions" : [ "2.3.0" ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "tensorflow-gpu"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "versions" : [ "2.3.0" ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-pg59-2f92-5cph"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15196"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/3cbb917b4714766030b28eba9fb41bb97ce9ee02"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2020-276.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2020-311.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2020-119.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.3.1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-119", "CWE-122", "CWE-125" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-09-25T16:48:44Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-09-25T19:15:00Z"
  }
}