CVE-2021-29530 : What You Need to Know

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open-source platform for machine learning. An invalid input to

tf.raw_ops.SparseMatrixSparseCholesky

can lead to a null pointer dereference due to improper validation. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2021-29530, has a CVSS base score of 2.5.

Understanding CVE-2021-29530

This section elaborates on the nature of the vulnerability, its impact, affected systems, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-29530?

A flaw in TensorFlow allows an attacker to trigger a null pointer dereference by providing an invalid

permutation

to

tf.raw_ops.SparseMatrixSparseCholesky

. The lack of proper input validation can lead to security issues.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29530

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 2.5, indicating a low severity issue. However, it can be exploited with high attack complexity locally, affecting the availability of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29530

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises due to inadequate input validation in the implementation of

SparseMatrixSparseCholesky

. By selecting a malicious

permutation

, an attacker can exploit the null pointer dereference.

Affected Systems and Versions

TensorFlow versions prior to 2.1.4 and those between 2.2.0 to 2.4.2 are impacted by this vulnerability. Users of these versions are advised to upgrade to TensorFlow 2.5.0 or apply relevant patches.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability locally with low privileges required. By providing a specific

permutation

, they can trigger the null pointer dereference, potentially disrupting system availability.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss steps to mitigate the impact of CVE-2021-29530 and prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are recommended to update their TensorFlow installations to version 2.5.0 or apply the provided patches for versions 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, and 2.4.2. This will address the null pointer dereference issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance security posture, developers should prioritize input validation in their code to prevent null pointer dereference and similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating TensorFlow and monitoring security advisories is crucial to stay protected against known vulnerabilities.