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CVE-2020-15203 High

Denial of Service in Tensorflow

### Impact By controlling the `fill` argument of [`tf.strings.as_string`](https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/strings/as_string), a malicious attacker is able to trigger a format string vulnerability due to the way the internal format use in a `printf` call is constructed: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/as_string_op.cc#L68-L74 This can result in unexpected output: ```python In [1]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='-') Out[1]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['1234 '], dtype=object)> In [2]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='+') Out[2]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array([' +1234'], dtype=object)> In [3]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="h") Out[3]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['%6d'], dtype=object)> In [4]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="d") Out[4]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['12346d'], dtype=object)> In [5]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="o") Out[5]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['23226d'], dtype=object)> In [6]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="x") Out[6]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['4d26d'], dtype=object)> In [7]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="g") Out[7]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['8.67458e-3116d'], dtype=object)> In [8]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="a") Out[8]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['0x0.00ff7eebb4d4p-10226d'], dtype=object)> In [9]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="c") Out[9]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['\xd26d'], dtype=object)> In [10]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="p") Out[10]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['0x4d26d'], dtype=object)> In [11]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='m') Out[11]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['Success6d'], dtype=object)> ``` However, passing in `n` or `s` results in segmentation fault. ### Patches We have patched the issue in 33be22c65d86256e6826666662e40dbdfe70ee83 and will release patch releases for all versions between 1.15 and 2.3. We recommend users to upgrade to TensorFlow 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 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 has been reported by members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

Exploit probability 1.0%
Published September 25, 2020
Required by Not available
Last source change July 8, 2026

02 / AFFECTED SOFTWARE

Affected packages

PyPI tensorflow

36 explicit affected versions

PyPI tensorflow-cpu

5 explicit affected versions

PyPI tensorflow-gpu

36 explicit affected versions

Unknown Unknown

21 explicit affected versions

Bitnami tensorflow
PyPI tensorflow

77 explicit affected versions

PyPI tensorflow-cpu

5 explicit affected versions

PyPI tensorflow-gpu

36 explicit affected versions

03 / CONNECTIONS

Connected vulnerabilities

04 / EVIDENCE

Source records

Open Source Vulnerabilities CVE-2020-15203

In Tensorflow before versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 and 2.3.1, by controlling the `fill` argument of tf.strings.as_string, a malicious attacker is able to trigger a format string vulnerability due to the way the internal format use in a `printf` call is constructed. This may result in segmentation fault. The issue is patched in commit 33be22c65d86256e6826666662e40dbdfe70ee83, and is released in TensorFlow versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 2.3.1.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities GHSA-xmq7-7fxm-rr79

### Impact By controlling the `fill` argument of [`tf.strings.as_string`](https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/strings/as_string), a malicious attacker is able to trigger a format string vulnerability due to the way the internal format use in a `printf` call is constructed: https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/as_string_op.cc#L68-L74 This can result in unexpected output: ```python In [1]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='-') Out[1]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['1234 '], dtype=object)> In [2]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='+') Out[2]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array([' +1234'], dtype=object)> In [3]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="h") Out[3]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['%6d'], dtype=object)> In [4]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="d") Out[4]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['12346d'], dtype=object)> In [5]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="o") Out[5]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['23226d'], dtype=object)> In [6]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="x") Out[6]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['4d26d'], dtype=object)> In [7]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="g") Out[7]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['8.67458e-3116d'], dtype=object)> In [8]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="a") Out[8]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['0x0.00ff7eebb4d4p-10226d'], dtype=object)> In [9]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="c") Out[9]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['\xd26d'], dtype=object)> In [10]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill="p") Out[10]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['0x4d26d'], dtype=object)> In [11]: tf.strings.as_string(input=[1234], width=6, fill='m') Out[11]: <tf.Tensor: shape=(1,), dtype=string, numpy=array(['Success6d'], dtype=object)> ``` However, passing in `n` or `s` results in segmentation fault. ### Patches We have patched the issue in 33be22c65d86256e6826666662e40dbdfe70ee83 and will release patch releases for all versions between 1.15 and 2.3. We recommend users to upgrade to TensorFlow 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 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 has been reported by members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities BIT-tensorflow-2020-15203

In Tensorflow before versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 and 2.3.1, by controlling the `fill` argument of tf.strings.as_string, a malicious attacker is able to trigger a format string vulnerability due to the way the internal format use in a `printf` call is constructed. This may result in segmentation fault. The issue is patched in commit 33be22c65d86256e6826666662e40dbdfe70ee83, and is released in TensorFlow versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 2.3.1.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities PYSEC-2020-126

In Tensorflow before versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 and 2.3.1, by controlling the `fill` argument of tf.strings.as_string, a malicious attacker is able to trigger a format string vulnerability due to the way the internal format use in a `printf` call is constructed. This may result in segmentation fault. The issue is patched in commit 33be22c65d86256e6826666662e40dbdfe70ee83, and is released in TensorFlow versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 2.3.1.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities PYSEC-2020-283

In Tensorflow before versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 and 2.3.1, by controlling the `fill` argument of tf.strings.as_string, a malicious attacker is able to trigger a format string vulnerability due to the way the internal format use in a `printf` call is constructed. This may result in segmentation fault. The issue is patched in commit 33be22c65d86256e6826666662e40dbdfe70ee83, and is released in TensorFlow versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 2.3.1.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities PYSEC-2020-318

In Tensorflow before versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1 and 2.3.1, by controlling the `fill` argument of tf.strings.as_string, a malicious attacker is able to trigger a format string vulnerability due to the way the internal format use in a `printf` call is constructed. This may result in segmentation fault. The issue is patched in commit 33be22c65d86256e6826666662e40dbdfe70ee83, and is released in TensorFlow versions 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 2.3.1.

View original source

05 / REFERENCES

Further evidence