MediumVulnerability

CVE-2021-41217: TensorFlow null pointer crash when building control flow graph

Source: NVD(opens in a new tab)
Identifier: CVE-2021-41217
Published: November 5, 2021
Record updated: October 9, 2026

Affected: tensorflow >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1, fixed in 2.6.1, released November 1, 2021, 5 days before disclosure
tensorflow >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2, fixed in 2.5.2, released November 1, 2021, 5 days before disclosure
tensorflow < 2.4.4, fixed in 2.4.4, released November 1, 2021, 5 days before disclosure
and 6 more
Known exploitation: Not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog at the last check.
EPSS: 0.2%

Summary

CVE-2021-41217 affects TensorFlow versions where building the control flow graph for a model dereferences a null pointer. The code assumes the first node in a pairing, such as an `Enter` node, always exists when it reaches the second node, such as an `Exit` node. When it does not, `parent` is `nullptr` and dereferencing it crashes the process.

Mitigation

Fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. The commit will also be cherrypicked to TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4.

Details

Scores and exploitation

CVSS score: 5.5(medium)
Patch available: Yes
EPSS: 0.2%Estimated probability that this CVE is exploited in the next 30 days, from the FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System. Read on November 4, 2026.

Weaknesses and techniques

Weakness (CWE): CWE-476
CWE-476

Affected

Packages: tensorflow@>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1 (fixed: 2.6.1)
tensorflow@>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2 (fixed: 2.5.2)
tensorflow@< 2.4.4 (fixed: 2.4.4)
tensorflow-cpu@>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1 (fixed: 2.6.1)
tensorflow-cpu@>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2 (fixed: 2.5.2)
tensorflow-cpu@< 2.4.4 (fixed: 2.4.4)
tensorflow-gpu@>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1 (fixed: 2.6.1)
tensorflow-gpu@>= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2 (fixed: 2.5.2)
tensorflow-gpu@< 2.4.4 (fixed: 2.4.4)
Vendors: Google

Classification

Attack type: Denial of service
Attack sophistication: Moderate
AI component targeted: Framework
Impact: Availability
Labels: security

How this record was produced

Summaries, mitigations and labels on this page are generated automatically from the source. The linked source is authoritative. The source gives this advisory a description and no title, so the title above is a headline generated from the source text.

Original source: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41217

First tracked: February 15, 2026 at 08:40 PM ET, from NVD/CVE Database

Classifier: claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v4

Classifier confidence: 90% (self-assessed)

Affected packages in the Exposure Registry

Matched by package name and ecosystem. Each entry shows whether the package delegates to a language model and how many tracked packages depend on it.

tensorflowPyPINo LLM dependency detected · 26 tracked dependents
tensorflow-gpuPyPINo LLM dependency detected · 2 tracked dependents

Summary

Mitigation

Affected packages in the Exposure Registry

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