# CVE-2021-37665: Incomplete validation in MKL requantization in TensorFlow

> Attackers can trigger undefined behavior via null pointer dereference or out-of-bounds heap access in TensorFlow's MKL requantization kernels.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 Aug 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** BIT-tensorflow-2021-37665, GHSA-v82p-hv3v-p6qp, PYSEC-2021-287, PYSEC-2021-578, PYSEC-2021-776

## What is CVE-2021-37665?

CVE-2021-37665 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Tensorflow, published on 12 Aug 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

TensorFlow is an end-to-end open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions due to incomplete validation in MKL implementation of requantization, an attacker can trigger undefined behavior via binding a reference to a null pointer or can access data outside the bounds of heap allocated arrays. The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/460e000de3a83278fb00b61a16d161b1964f15f4/tensorflow/core/kernels/mkl/mkl_requantization_range_per_channel_op.cc) does not validate the dimensions of the `input` tensor. A similar issue occurs in `MklRequantizePerChannelOp`. The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/460e000de3a83278fb00b61a16d161b1964f15f4/tensorflow/core/kernels/mkl/mkl_requantize_per_channel_op.cc) does not perform full validation for all the input arguments. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit 9e62869465573cb2d9b5053f1fa02a81fce21d69 and in the Github commit 203214568f5bc237603dbab6e1fd389f1572f5c9. 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.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-37665?

22 open source packages ship an affected version, including tensorflow, tensorflow-cpu and tensorflow-gpu. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `tensorflow` | Bitnami | From 2.3.0 | 2.3.4, 2.4.3, 2.5.1 |
| `tensorflow` | PyPI | All versions | 2.3.4 |
| `tensorflow` | PyPI | All versions | 2.3.4 |
| `tensorflow` | PyPI | From 2.3.0 | 2.3.4, 2.4.3 |
| `tensorflow` | PyPI | From 2.4.0 | 2.4.3 |
| `tensorflow` | PyPI | From 2.4.0 | 2.4.3 |
| `tensorflow` | PyPI | From 2.5.0 | 2.5.1 |
| `tensorflow` | PyPI | From 2.5.0 | 2.5.1 |
| `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.3.4 |
| `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.3.4 |
| `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | From 2.3.0 | 2.3.4, 2.4.3 |
| `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | From 2.4.0 | 2.4.3 |
| `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | From 2.4.0 | 2.4.3 |
| `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | From 2.5.0 | 2.5.1 |
| `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | From 2.5.0 | 2.5.1 |
| `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.3.4 |
| `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.3.4 |
| `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | From 2.3.0 | 2.3.4, 2.4.3 |
| `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | From 2.4.0 | 2.4.3 |
| `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | From 2.4.0 | 2.4.3 |
| `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | From 2.5.0 | 2.5.1 |
| `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | From 2.5.0 | 2.5.1 |

Products: Google Tensorflow.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-37665?

Upgrade tensorflow to a fixed version for your release line: 2.3.4, 2.4.3 or 2.5.1.

## Is CVE-2021-37665 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-37665 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Google Tensorflow

- [CVE-2023-25668](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25668/): TensorFlow vulnerable to heap out-of-buffer read in the QuantizeAndDequantize operation (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-7575](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7575/): Integer Overflow or Wraparound in Google TensorFlow (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-37678](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37678/): Arbitrary code execution due to YAML deserialization (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2021-35958](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-35958/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2020-15202](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15202/): Integer truncation in Shard API usage (critical 9.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-37665 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-37665 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Tensorflow, published on 12 Aug 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-37665 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- tensorflow (Bitnami): affected from 2.3.0; fixed in 2.3.4, 2.4.3, 2.5.1
- tensorflow (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.3.4
- tensorflow (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.3.4
- tensorflow (PyPI): affected from 2.3.0; fixed in 2.3.4, 2.4.3
- tensorflow (PyPI): affected from 2.4.0; fixed in 2.4.3
- tensorflow (PyPI): affected from 2.4.0; fixed in 2.4.3
- tensorflow (PyPI): affected from 2.5.0; fixed in 2.5.1
- tensorflow (PyPI): affected from 2.5.0; fixed in 2.5.1
- tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.3.4
- tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.3.4
- tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): affected from 2.3.0; fixed in 2.3.4, 2.4.3
- tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): affected from 2.4.0; fixed in 2.4.3

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37665/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37665/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-37665
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37665
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-37665

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37665/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.
