CVE-2021-37637Public exploit

Process crash via unchecked TensorBuffer dereference

Published Aug 12, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Null pointer dereference in Google TensorFlow before 2.3.4, 2.4.0 through 2.4.2, and 2.5.0 allows local users to crash a process. In compression_utils.cc, CompressElement calls DMAHelper::buffer for a component and dereferences the returned TensorBuffer to read its size without first checking for null. Local users must be able to invoke the TensorFlow operation with malformed components; the demonstrated consequence is termination of the hosting process.

CVSS severity7.7
High
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Null pointer dereference in Google TensorFlow before 2.3.4, 2.4.0 through 2.4.2, and 2.5.0 allows local users to crash a process. In compression_utils.cc, CompressElement calls DMAHelper::buffer for a component and dereferences the returned TensorBuffer to read its size without first checking for null. Local users must be able to invoke the TensorFlow operation with malformed components; the demonstrated consequence is termination of the hosting process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-37637
Published
Aug 12, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
TensorFlow
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 12, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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=< 2.3.4
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3
  3. Affected versionversion=>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · TensorFlowversion=< 2.3.4; version=>= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3; version=>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1

Published CVSS scores

7.7GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo