---
id: CVE-2020-15201
aliases:
  - GHSA-p5f8-gfw5-33w4
  - BIT-tensorflow-2020-15201
  - PYSEC-2020-124
  - PYSEC-2020-281
  - PYSEC-2020-316
title: Heap buffer overflow in Tensorflow
summary: Heap buffer overflow in Tensorflow
severity: medium
cvss: 4.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N'
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-p5f8-gfw5-33w4'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-p5f8-gfw5-33w4
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15201'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/3cbb917b4714766030b28eba9fb41bb97ce9ee02
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2020-281.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2020-316.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2020-124.yaml
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow'
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.3.1'
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00568
epssPercentile: 0.44663
ingestedAt: '2026-07-08T18:25:51.523Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact
The `RaggedCountSparseOutput` implementation does not validate that the input arguments form a valid ragged tensor. In particular, there is no validation that the values in the `splits` tensor generate a valid partitioning of the `values` tensor. Hence, this code is prone to heap buffer overflow:
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L248-L251

If `split_values` does not end with a value at least `num_values` then the `while` loop condition will trigger a read outside of the bounds of `split_values` once `batch_idx` grows too large. 

### 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 has been reported by members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

## 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`