CVE-2021-37669 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A detailed overview of CVE-2021-37669, a vulnerability in TensorFlow that could lead to a denial of service attack due to an integer conversion issue.

Understanding CVE-2021-37669

This section provides insight into the critical vulnerability identified in TensorFlow.

What is CVE-2021-37669?

TensorFlow, an open-source machine learning platform, is susceptible to a denial-of-service attack in specific versions. Attackers can exploit

tf.raw_ops.NonMaxSuppressionV5

to trigger a division by 0, causing a crash due to an integer conversion error.

The Impact of CVE-2021-37669

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 5.5, impacting the availability of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-37669

Delve deeper into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-37669 and its implications.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from an integer conversion error in resizing

std::vector

, leading to a crash when a negative value is input by an attacker.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions >= 2.3.4 and < 2.5.1 of TensorFlow are affected, including 2.4.0 to 2.4.3. TensorFlow 2.6.0 will contain the fix, along with patches for TensorFlow 2.5.1, 2.4.3, and 2.3.4.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating user-controlled arguments to resize vectors, attackers can trigger a crash by providing a negative value.

Mitigation and Prevention

Explore the necessary steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-37669.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should apply the provided patches or update to TensorFlow version 2.6.0 once available.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future and regularly monitor for updates.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches released by TensorFlow to maintain system security.