CVE-2021-29618Public exploit

Process crash via rank-zero complex transpose

Published May 14, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper exception handling in affected Google TensorFlow releases allows local users to crash a process through tf.transpose. DoTransposeImpl aborts on a rank assertion when conjugate=true routes a rank-zero complex tensor into code that requires at least two dimensions. The caller must already be able to execute TensorFlow operations with a crafted complex tensor, and the demonstrated consequence is termination of that hosting process rather than data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity2.5
Low
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper exception handling in affected Google TensorFlow releases allows local users to crash a process through tf.transpose. DoTransposeImpl aborts on a rank assertion when conjugate=true routes a rank-zero complex tensor into code that requires at least two dimensions. The caller must already be able to execute TensorFlow operations with a crafted complex tensor, and the demonstrated consequence is termination of that hosting process rather than data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-29618
Published
May 14, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
TensorFlow
Classifications
CWE-755, T1499.004
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

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 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 CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
5.5NVDCVSS: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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-755Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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