# CVE-2022-21728: Out of bounds read in Tensorflow > An attacker can trigger a heap out-of-bounds read in TensorFlow's ReverseSequence operation by providing a negative batch dimension, potentially leaking memory or crashing the application. - **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Any signed-in user - **Attackable:** Over the internet - **Victim action needed:** Not needed - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 3 Feb 2022 - **Updated:** 5 May 2025 - **Also known as:** BIT-tensorflow-2022-21728, GHSA-6gmv-pjp9-p8w8, PYSEC-2022-107, PYSEC-2022-52, PYSEC-2026-3121 ## What is CVE-2022-21728? CVE-2022-21728 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Google Tensorflow, published on 3 Feb 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim. ### Official description Tensorflow is an Open Source Machine Learning Framework. The implementation of shape inference for `ReverseSequence` does not fully validate the value of `batch_dim` and can result in a heap OOB read. There is a check to make sure the value of `batch_dim` does not go over the rank of the input, but there is no check for negative values. Negative dimensions are allowed in some cases to mimic Python's negative indexing (i.e., indexing from the end of the array), however if the value is too negative then the implementation of `Dim` would access elements before the start of an array. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.8.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.7.1, TensorFlow 2.6.3, and TensorFlow 2.5.3, as these are also affected and still in supported range. Weakness: CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-21728? 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 | All versions | 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 | | `tensorflow` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 | | `tensorflow` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.3 | | `tensorflow` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.3 | | `tensorflow` | PyPI | From 2.6.0 | 2.6.3 | | `tensorflow` | PyPI | From 2.6.0 | 2.6.3 | | `tensorflow` | PyPI | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.1 | | `tensorflow` | PyPI | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.1 | | `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.3, 2.6.3 | | `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.3 | | `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.3 | | `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | From 2.6.0 | 2.6.3 | | `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | From 2.6.0 | 2.6.3 | | `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.1 | | `tensorflow-cpu` | PyPI | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.1 | | `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.3, 2.6.3 | | `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.3 | | `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | All versions | 2.5.3 | | `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | From 2.6.0 | 2.6.3 | | `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | From 2.6.0 | 2.6.3 | | `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.1 | | `tensorflow-gpu` | PyPI | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.1 | Products: Google Tensorflow. ## How do I fix CVE-2022-21728? Upgrade tensorflow to a fixed version for your release line: 2.5.3, 2.6.3 or 2.7.1. ## Is CVE-2022-21728 being exploited? It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-21728 exists. Public exploit code: - https://github.com/mwina/CVE-2022-21728-test (github_poc): https://github.com/mwina/CVE-2022-21728-test ## 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-2022-21728 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2022-21728 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Google Tensorflow, published on 3 Feb 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-21728 exists. Affected packages and fixed versions: - tensorflow (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 - tensorflow (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.3, 2.6.3, 2.7.1 - tensorflow (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.3 - tensorflow (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.3 - tensorflow (PyPI): affected from 2.6.0; fixed in 2.6.3 - tensorflow (PyPI): affected from 2.6.0; fixed in 2.6.3 - tensorflow (PyPI): affected from 2.7.0; fixed in 2.7.1 - tensorflow (PyPI): affected from 2.7.0; fixed in 2.7.1 - tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.3, 2.6.3 - tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.3 - tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.3 - tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): affected from 2.6.0; fixed in 2.6.3 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-2022-21728/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21728/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-21728 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21728 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-21728 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21728/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.