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CVE-2021-41217 Moderate

Null pointer exception when `Exit` node is not preceded by `Enter` op

### Impact The [process of building the control flow graph](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8d72537c6abf5a44103b57b9c2e22c14f5f49698/tensorflow/core/common_runtime/immutable_executor_state.cc#L284-L346) for a TensorFlow model is vulnerable to a null pointer exception when nodes that should be paired are not: ```python import tensorflow as tf @tf.function def func(): return tf.raw_ops.Exit(data=[False,False]) func() ``` This occurs because the code assumes that the first node in the pairing (e.g., an `Enter` node) always exists when encountering the second node (e.g., an `Exit` node): ```cc ... } else if (IsExit(curr_node)) { // Exit to the parent frame. parent = parent_nodes[curr_id]; frame_name = cf_info->frame_names[parent->id()]; ... ``` When this is not the case, `parent` is `nullptr` so dereferencing it causes a crash. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [05cbebd3c6bb8f517a158b0155debb8df79017ff](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/05cbebd3c6bb8f517a158b0155debb8df79017ff). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, 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 members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

Exploit probability 0.2%
Published November 10, 2021
Required by Not available
Last source change July 8, 2026

02 / AFFECTED SOFTWARE

Affected packages

PyPI tensorflow

57 explicit affected versions

PyPI tensorflow-cpu

22 explicit affected versions

PyPI tensorflow-gpu

57 explicit affected versions

Unknown Unknown

20 explicit affected versions

Bitnami tensorflow
PyPI tensorflow

72 explicit affected versions

PyPI tensorflow-gpu

59 explicit affected versions

PyPI tensorflow-cpu

24 explicit affected versions

03 / CONNECTIONS

Connected vulnerabilities

04 / EVIDENCE

Source records

Open Source Vulnerabilities GHSA-5crj-c72x-m7gq

### Impact The [process of building the control flow graph](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8d72537c6abf5a44103b57b9c2e22c14f5f49698/tensorflow/core/common_runtime/immutable_executor_state.cc#L284-L346) for a TensorFlow model is vulnerable to a null pointer exception when nodes that should be paired are not: ```python import tensorflow as tf @tf.function def func(): return tf.raw_ops.Exit(data=[False,False]) func() ``` This occurs because the code assumes that the first node in the pairing (e.g., an `Enter` node) always exists when encountering the second node (e.g., an `Exit` node): ```cc ... } else if (IsExit(curr_node)) { // Exit to the parent frame. parent = parent_nodes[curr_id]; frame_name = cf_info->frame_names[parent->id()]; ... ``` When this is not the case, `parent` is `nullptr` so dereferencing it causes a crash. ### Patches We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [05cbebd3c6bb8f517a158b0155debb8df79017ff](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/05cbebd3c6bb8f517a158b0155debb8df79017ff). The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, 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 members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities BIT-tensorflow-2021-41217

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the process of building the control flow graph for a TensorFlow model is vulnerable to a null pointer exception when nodes that should be paired are not. This occurs because the code assumes that the first node in the pairing (e.g., an `Enter` node) always exists when encountering the second node (e.g., an `Exit` node). When this is not the case, `parent` is `nullptr` so dereferencing it causes a crash. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities PYSEC-2021-824

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the process of building the control flow graph for a TensorFlow model is vulnerable to a null pointer exception when nodes that should be paired are not. This occurs because the code assumes that the first node in the pairing (e.g., an `Enter` node) always exists when encountering the second node (e.g., an `Exit` node). When this is not the case, `parent` is `nullptr` so dereferencing it causes a crash. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities PYSEC-2021-409

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the process of building the control flow graph for a TensorFlow model is vulnerable to a null pointer exception when nodes that should be paired are not. This occurs because the code assumes that the first node in the pairing (e.g., an `Enter` node) always exists when encountering the second node (e.g., an `Exit` node). When this is not the case, `parent` is `nullptr` so dereferencing it causes a crash. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities PYSEC-2021-626

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the process of building the control flow graph for a TensorFlow model is vulnerable to a null pointer exception when nodes that should be paired are not. This occurs because the code assumes that the first node in the pairing (e.g., an `Enter` node) always exists when encountering the second node (e.g., an `Exit` node). When this is not the case, `parent` is `nullptr` so dereferencing it causes a crash. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

View original source
Open Source Vulnerabilities CVE-2021-41217

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the process of building the control flow graph for a TensorFlow model is vulnerable to a null pointer exception when nodes that should be paired are not. This occurs because the code assumes that the first node in the pairing (e.g., an `Enter` node) always exists when encountering the second node (e.g., an `Exit` node). When this is not the case, `parent` is `nullptr` so dereferencing it causes a crash. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

View original source

05 / REFERENCES

Further evidence