CVE-2021-29542Public exploit

Process interruption via padding-only StringNGrams input

Published May 14, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Heap buffer overflow in Google TensorFlow allows local users to interrupt TensorFlow-dependent processes using crafted StringNGrams inputs. The StringNGrams kernel appends data[data_start_index + num_tokens - 1] even when padding-only input makes num_tokens zero, producing a data[-1] heap read. Exploitation requires code that can invoke the operation with attacker-controlled tensor arguments, and the published impact is limited to availability.

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

Heap buffer overflow in Google TensorFlow allows local users to interrupt TensorFlow-dependent processes using crafted StringNGrams inputs. The StringNGrams kernel appends data[data_start_index + num_tokens - 1] even when padding-only input makes num_tokens zero, producing a data[-1] heap read. Exploitation requires code that can invoke the operation with attacker-controlled tensor arguments, and the published impact is limited to availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-29542
Published
May 14, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
TensorFlow
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-131, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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 privilegesauthenticated

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 CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-131Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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