Incorrect validation of `SaveV2` inputs in TensorFlow
Description
TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the code for tf.raw_ops.SaveV2 does not properly validate the inputs and an attacker can trigger a null pointer dereference. The implementation uses ValidateInputs to check that the input arguments are valid. This validation would have caught the illegal state represented by the reproducer above. However, the validation uses OP_REQUIRES which translates to setting the Status object of the current OpKernelContext to an error status, followed by an empty return statement which just terminates the execution of the function it is present in. However, this does not mean that the kernel execution is finalized: instead, execution continues from the next line in Compute that follows the call to ValidateInputs. This is equivalent to lacking the validation. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit 9728c60e136912a12d99ca56e106b7cce7af5986. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.6.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.5.1, TensorFlow 2.4.3, and TensorFlow 2.3.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.
Affected packages
Versions sourced from the GitHub Security Advisory.
| Package | Affected versions | Patched versions |
|---|---|---|
tensorflowPyPI | < 2.3.4 | 2.3.4 |
tensorflowPyPI | >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3 | 2.4.3 |
tensorflowPyPI | >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1 | 2.5.1 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI | < 2.3.4 | 2.3.4 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI | >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3 | 2.4.3 |
tensorflow-cpuPyPI | >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1 | 2.5.1 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI | < 2.3.4 | 2.3.4 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI | >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3 | 2.4.3 |
tensorflow-gpuPyPI | >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1 | 2.5.1 |
Affected products
1- Range: >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1
Patches
19728c60e1369Ensure validation sticks in `save_restore_v2_ops.cc`
1 file changed · +2 −0
tensorflow/core/kernels/save_restore_v2_ops.cc+2 −0 modified@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ class SaveV2 : public OpKernel { const Tensor& shape_and_slices = context->input(2); ValidateInputs(true /* is save op */, context, prefix, tensor_names, shape_and_slices); + if (!context->status().ok()) return; const int kFixedInputs = 3; // Prefix, tensor names, shape_and_slices. const int num_tensors = static_cast<int>(tensor_names.NumElements()); @@ -177,6 +178,7 @@ class RestoreV2 : public OpKernel { " expected dtypes.")); ValidateInputs(false /* not save op */, context, prefix, tensor_names, shape_and_slices); + if (!context->status().ok()) return; const string& prefix_string = prefix.scalar<tstring>()();
Vulnerability mechanics
Generated by null/stub on May 9, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.
References
7- github.com/advisories/GHSA-wp77-4gmm-7cq8ghsaADVISORY
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37648ghsaADVISORY
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-561.yamlghsaWEB
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-759.yamlghsaWEB
- github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-270.yamlghsaWEB
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/9728c60e136912a12d99ca56e106b7cce7af5986ghsax_refsource_MISCWEB
- github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-wp77-4gmm-7cq8ghsax_refsource_CONFIRMWEB
News mentions
0No linked articles in our index yet.