CVE-2021-29560 : What You Need to Know

TensorFlow, an end-to-end open-source platform for machine learning, is affected by a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in

tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor

. This CVE allows an attacker to trigger a heap out-of-bounds access due to a flaw in accessing arrays.

Understanding CVE-2021-29560

This section delves into the details of the vulnerability and its impact.

What is CVE-2021-29560?

CVE-2021-29560 is a heap buffer overflow vulnerability found in TensorFlow's

RaggedTensorToTensor

module. The issue arises from accessing arrays with the same index in parallel, leading to a potential out-of-bounds access.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29560

The vulnerability's impact is rated as low severity, with a CVSS base score of 2.5. It has a high attack complexity and a low attack vector, making it more challenging to exploit.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29560

This section covers the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an attacker to conduct a heap buffer overflow in

RaggedTensorToTensor

through mismanagement of arrays' indexes, potentially causing out-of-bounds access.

Affected Systems and Versions

TensorFlow versions prior to 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, and 2.4.2 are impacted by this vulnerability, requiring immediate attention.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating the input arguments' shape, an attacker can exploit the vulnerability and trigger a heap out-of-bounds access when

parent_output_index

is shorter than

row_split

.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here, we discuss steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-29560.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update TensorFlow to version 2.5.0 or apply the provided fix for TensorFlow 2.1.4, 2.2.3, 2.3.3, and 2.4.2 to remediate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices and regularly update TensorFlow to the latest versions to mitigate the risk of similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches released by TensorFlow to address vulnerabilities promptly.