CVE-2021-29513Public exploit

Process crash via non-numeric tensor type confusion

Published May 14, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Type confusion in Google TensorFlow affected releases allows local users to crash a process by passing a non-numeric tensor. In ndarray_tensor.cc, PyArrayDescr_to_TF_DataType passes a null NumPy descriptor fields pointer to PyDict_Next during Python-to-C++ conversion. Executing TensorFlow code locally and supplying an incompatible tensor type is required; the documented consequence is a null-pointer crash of the invoking process.

CVSS severity2.5
Low
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Type confusion in Google TensorFlow affected releases allows local users to crash a process by passing a non-numeric tensor. In ndarray_tensor.cc, PyArrayDescr_to_TF_DataType passes a null NumPy descriptor fields pointer to PyDict_Next during Python-to-C++ conversion. Executing TensorFlow code locally and supplying an incompatible tensor type is required; the documented consequence is a null-pointer crash of the invoking process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-29513
Published
May 14, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
TensorFlow
Classifications
CWE-476, CWE-843
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 14, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 2.1.4
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3
  3. Affected versionversion=>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3
  4. Affected versionversion=>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Google · TensorFlowversion=< 2.1.4; version=>= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3; version=>= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3; version=>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2

Published CVSS scores

2.5GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
CWE-843Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type ('Type Confusion')

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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