CVE-2021-29616

Null dereference in Grappler's `TrySimplify`

HIGH

7.8

CVSS Score

Published: May 14, 2021 at 07:25 PM UTC

Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:48 AM UTC

2 products affected across 2 vendorsTensorflowTensorFlow

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Severity

HIGH7.8

Exploit prediction

EPSS 0.2%

Description

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. The implementation of TrySimplify(https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/c22d88d6ff33031aa113e48aa3fc9aa74ed79595/tensorflow/core/grappler/optimizers/arithmetic_optimizer.cc#L390-L401) has undefined behavior due to dereferencing a null pointer in corner cases that result in optimizing a node with no inputs. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Tensorflow · Google

95%

v < 2.1.42.2.0 ≤ v < 2.2.32.3.0 ≤ v < 2.3.32.4.0 ≤ v < 2.4.2

Affected range stops below 2.1.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 2.2.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 2.3.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 2.4.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

TensorFlow · Tensorflow

60%

v < 2.1.4v < 2.2.3v < 2.3.3v < 2.4.2

Affected range stops below 2.1.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 2.2.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 2.3.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 2.4.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

Patch and advisory references

References (2)

x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory

Source: [email protected]

https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/e6340f0665d53716ef3197ada88936c2a5f7a2d3

x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitPatchThird Party Advisory

Source: [email protected]

https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-4hvv-7x94-7vq8

CVSS

7.8HIGH[email protected]

Attack Vector: LOCAL
Complexity: LOW
Privileges: LOW
User Interaction: NONE
Scope: UNCHANGED
Confidentiality: HIGH
Integrity: HIGH
Availability: HIGH

Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED

CWE

CWE-476

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