CVE-2021-41208

Heap corruption and crashes via unchecked tree tensors

Published Nov 5, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Memory corruption in TensorFlow boosted trees before 2.4.4, 2.5.0 through 2.5.1, and 2.6.0 allows local users to read or write heap data. Multiple kernels in stats_ops.cc trust tensor dimensions, node IDs, and sparse indices without validating bounds or matching lengths before indexing heap-backed tensors. A process must invoke the affected boosted-tree operations with crafted arguments; out-of-bounds access, null dereferences, or failed checks can corrupt memory or terminate the process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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

Memory corruption in TensorFlow boosted trees before 2.4.4, 2.5.0 through 2.5.1, and 2.6.0 allows local users to read or write heap data. Multiple kernels in stats_ops.cc trust tensor dimensions, node IDs, and sparse indices without validating bounds or matching lengths before indexing heap-backed tensors. A process must invoke the affected boosted-tree operations with crafted arguments; out-of-bounds access, null dereferences, or failed checks can corrupt memory or terminate the process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-41208
Published
Nov 5, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Google
Product
TensorFlow
Classifications
CWE-476, CWE-824, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 5, 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

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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=< 2.4.4
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2
  3. Affected versionversion=>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Google · TensorFlowversion=< 2.4.4; version=>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2; version=>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1

Published CVSS scores

4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
CWE-824Access of Uninitialized Pointer
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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