---
id: CVE-2020-15197
aliases:
  - GHSA-qc53-44cj-vfvx
  - BIT-tensorflow-2020-15197
  - PYSEC-2020-120
  - PYSEC-2020-277
  - PYSEC-2020-312
title: Denial of Service in Tensorflow
summary: Denial of Service in Tensorflow
severity: medium
cvss: 6.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H'
vendor: tensorflow
product: tensorflow
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1'
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1'
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1'
patched:
  - tensorflow 2.3.1
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.3.1
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.3.1
published: '2020-09-25'
updated: '2026-07-08'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-qc53-44cj-vfvx'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-qc53-44cj-vfvx
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15197'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/3cbb917b4714766030b28eba9fb41bb97ce9ee02
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2020-277.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2020-312.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2020-120.yaml
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow'
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.3.1'
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00726
epssPercentile: 0.52142
ingestedAt: '2026-07-08T18:25:52.396Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact
The `SparseCountSparseOutput` implementation does not validate that the input arguments form a valid sparse tensor. In particular, there is no validation that the `indices` tensor has rank 2. This tensor must be a matrix because code assumes its elements are accessed as elements of a matrix:
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L185

However, malicious users can pass in tensors of different rank, resulting in a `CHECK` assertion failure and a crash. This can be used to cause denial of service in serving installations, if users are allowed to control the components of the input sparse tensor.

### Patches
We have patched the issue in 3cbb917b4714766030b28eba9fb41bb97ce9ee02 and will release a patch release.

We recommend users to upgrade to TensorFlow 2.3.1.

### For more information
Please consult [our security guide](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/master/SECURITY.md) for more information regarding the security model and how to contact us with issues and questions.

### Attribution
This vulnerability is a variant of [GHSA-p5f8-gfw5-33w4](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-p5f8-gfw5-33w4)

## Affected packages

- `tensorflow >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `tensorflow 2.3.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.3.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.3.1`