CVE-2022-41891 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been discovered in TensorFlow that allows for a denial of service attack due to a segmentation fault in

tf.raw_ops.TensorListConcat

function.

Understanding CVE-2022-41891

This CVE identifies a security issue in TensorFlow that can lead to a denial of service attack by exploiting a specific function.

What is CVE-2022-41891?

The CVE-2022-41891 vulnerability in TensorFlow arises from a segfault in the

tf.raw_ops.TensorListConcat

function, which can be abused to trigger a denial of service attack.

The Impact of CVE-2022-41891

The impact of this vulnerability is classified as medium severity, with a CVSS base score of 4.8. Successful exploitation can result in a denial of service attack on the TensorFlow platform.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-41891

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, including affected systems, exploitation mechanisms, and more.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability originates from a segfault in the

tf.raw_ops.TensorListConcat

function within TensorFlow, providing attackers an opportunity to trigger a denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects TensorFlow versions 2.10.0 to 2.10.1, 2.9.0 to 2.9.3, and any version below 2.8.4, exposing users of these versions to potential exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by providing

element_shape=[]

to the

tf.raw_ops.TensorListConcat

function, causing a segmentation fault that can be leveraged for a denial of service attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

Outlined here are steps to mitigate the security risk posed by CVE-2022-41891 in TensorFlow.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their TensorFlow installations to versions 2.10.1, 2.9.3, or above to address the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintaining up-to-date software versions, monitoring security advisories, and adopting secure coding practices can help defend against similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

The TensorFlow team has released fixes for CVE-2022-41891 in commit fc33f3dc4c14051a83eec6535b608abe1d355fde, which will be included in TensorFlow 2.11. Additionally, the fix will be backported to versions 2.10.1, 2.9.3, and 2.8.4 to ensure comprehensive protection against this vulnerability.