CVE-2021-29606 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A detailed article outlining the CVE-2021-29606 related to a heap out-of-bounds read vulnerability in TensorFlow's TFLite implementation.

Understanding CVE-2021-29606

This section provides insights into the vulnerability and its impact.

What is CVE-2021-29606?

TensorFlow's TFLite model vulnerability triggers an out-of-bounds read on the heap, affecting versions < 2.1.4, >= 2.2.0 and < 2.2.3, >= 2.3.0 and < 2.3.3, and >= 2.4.0 and < 2.4.2.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29606

The vulnerability could allow attackers to access data outside tensor shape array bounds, posing a risk with a CVSS base score of 7.1 (High).

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29606

This section covers specific technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

A specially crafted TFLite model could lead to an out-of-bounds read on the heap in the

Split_V

implementation, impacting TensorFlow versions.

Affected Systems and Versions

TensorFlow versions < 2.1.4, >= 2.2.0 and < 2.2.3, >= 2.3.0 and < 2.3.3, and >= 2.4.0 and < 2.4.2 are affected by this heap OOB read vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises due to improper input validation in TensorFlow's TFLite model, allowing unauthorized data access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to address and prevent vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-29606.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected TensorFlow versions to the latest secure ones, per the vendor's recommendations.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent heap-based vulnerabilities during application development and testing.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches released by TensorFlow to mitigate the risk of potential exploits.