AVID-2026-R0910

Description

Undefined behavior via nullptr reference binding in sparse matrix multiplication (CVE-2021-41219)

Details

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. In affected versions the code for sparse matrix multiplication is vulnerable to undefined behavior via binding a reference to nullptr. This occurs whenever the dimensions of a or b are 0 or less. In the case on one of these is 0, an empty output tensor should be allocated (to conserve the invariant that output tensors are always allocated when the operation is successful) but nothing should be written to it (that is, we should return early from the kernel implementation). Otherwise, attempts to write to this empty tensor would result in heap OOB access. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

Reason for inclusion in AVID: CVE-2021-41219 describes a vulnerability in TensorFlow (an AI framework) related to undefined behavior in sparse matrix multiplication due to binding a reference to a nullptr. This is a software vulnerability in a component (TensorFlow) used to build/train/deploy AI systems, representing a supply chain issue in general-purpose AI software stacks. The CVE is well-documented, affects multiple TensorFlow versions, and has a defined fix. This maps to an AI-related, GP AI supply chain, security/safety vulnerability with sufficient evidence.

References

• NVD entry
• https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-4f99-p9c2-3j8x
• https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/e6cf28c72ba2eb949ca950d834dd6d66bb01cfae

Affected or Relevant Artifacts

• Developer: tensorflow
• Deployer: tensorflow
• Artifact Details:

Impact

AVID Taxonomy Categorization

• Risk domains: Security
• SEP subcategories: S0100: Software Vulnerability
• Lifecycle stages: L06: Deployment

CVSS

CWE

Other information

• Report Type: Advisory
• Credits:
• Date Reported: 2021-11-05
• Version: 0.3.3
• AVID Entry