CVE-2021-29540 : What You Need to Know

TensorFlow is an open-source platform for machine learning. The vulnerability CVE-2021-29540 allows an attacker to trigger a heap buffer overflow in the

Conv2DBackpropFilter

function. The issue arises due to the incorrect computation of the filter tensor size in specific versions of TensorFlow. This could be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

Understanding CVE-2021-29540

This section delves into the details of the TensorFlow vulnerability CVE-2021-29540.

What is CVE-2021-29540?

CVE-2021-29540 is a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the

Conv2DBackpropFilter

function of TensorFlow. The vulnerability allows an attacker to manipulate the size of the filter tensor, leading to a buffer overflow.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29540

The impact of this vulnerability is considered low severity as it requires a specific set of conditions to be exploited. However, successful exploitation could result in arbitrary code execution on the target system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29540

This section outlines the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-29540 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a heap buffer overflow in the

Conv2DBackpropFilter

function due to the incorrect computation of the filter tensor size. This can be exploited by an attacker to trigger the overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected versions include TensorFlow versions prior to 2.1.4, 2.2.0 to 2.2.3, 2.3.0 to 2.3.3, and 2.4.0 to 2.4.2.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs to craft a specific payload to trigger the heap buffer overflow in the

Conv2DBackpropFilter

function.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides insights on how to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-29540 in TensorFlow.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their TensorFlow installations to version 2.5.0 or apply the necessary security patches provided by TensorFlow to address this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Developers are encouraged to follow secure coding practices and regularly update their dependencies to prevent such vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

TensorFlow has released fixes for CVE-2021-29540 in versions 2.5.0, 2.4.2, 2.3.3, 2.2.3, and 2.1.4. Users should ensure they apply these patches promptly to secure their systems.