CVE-2021-37642 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

TensorFlow is an open-source platform for machine learning. The vulnerability in affected versions arises from

tf.raw_ops.ResourceScatterDiv

implementation which is prone to a division by 0 error. The issue has been patched in the GitHub commit 4aacb30888638da75023e6601149415b39763d76 and will be addressed in TensorFlow 2.6.0. Affected versions include TensorFlow 2.5.0 to 2.5.1, 2.4.0 to 2.4.3, and versions below 2.3.4.

Understanding CVE-2021-37642

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2021-37642 vulnerability in TensorFlow.

What is CVE-2021-37642?

CVE-2021-37642 involves a division by 0 error in the implementation of

ResourceScatterDiv

in TensorFlow due to improper handling of the division by 0 case.

The Impact of CVE-2021-37642

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 5.5. It can lead to a denial of service (DoS) scenario with high availability impact.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-37642

Explore the technical aspects related to CVE-2021-37642 below.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from the implementation of

tf.raw_ops.ResourceScatterDiv

that fails to properly handle divide by 0 cases, leading to potential exploitation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Users of TensorFlow versions ranging from 2.3.4 to 2.5.0 are affected by this vulnerability, with the risk present until TensorFlow 2.5.1 is released.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by triggering the

ResourceScatterDiv

function with crafted input that triggers a division by 0 error.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2021-37642 vulnerability below.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update to TensorFlow 2.6.0 once the fix is released to ensure protection against the division by 0 vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintain a proactive approach to security by staying updated with software patches and ensuring timely updates to prevent known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for patch updates from TensorFlow to address critical vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-37642 and apply them promptly.