CVE-2021-37686

Process hang via skipped ellipsis-loop increments

Published Aug 12, 2021 · Updated Nov 13, 2024

Denial of service in Google TensorFlow Lite 2.6.0rc0 through 2.6.0rc1 allows local users to hang a process with a crafted model. In the strided-slice ellipsis path, an ellipsis_end_idx below the loop index bypasses both increments because continue skips the outer increment. Processing such a model is required, and the resulting infinite loop consumes CPU and stalls that TensorFlow Lite process without reported data access or modification.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Denial of service in Google TensorFlow Lite 2.6.0rc0 through 2.6.0rc1 allows local users to hang a process with a crafted model. In the strided-slice ellipsis path, an ellipsis_end_idx below the loop index bypasses both increments because continue skips the outer increment. Processing such a model is required, and the resulting infinite loop consumes CPU and stalls that TensorFlow Lite process without reported data access or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-37686
Published
Aug 12, 2021
Updated
Nov 13, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
TensorFlow
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 12, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 13, 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=>= 2.6.0rc0, < 2.6.0rc2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · TensorFlowversion=>= 2.6.0rc0, < 2.6.0rc2

Published CVSS scores

5.5GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/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.

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-835Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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