---
id: CVE-2020-15204
aliases:
  - GHSA-q8gv-q7wr-9jf8
  - BIT-tensorflow-2020-15204
  - PYSEC-2020-127
  - PYSEC-2020-284
  - PYSEC-2020-319
title: Segfault in Tensorflow
summary: Segfault in Tensorflow
severity: medium
cvss: 5.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'
vendor: tensorflow
product: tensorflow
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - tensorflow < 1.15.4
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.3'
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.2'
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.1'
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1'
  - tensorflow-cpu < 1.15.4
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.3'
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.2'
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.1'
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1'
  - tensorflow-gpu < 1.15.4
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.3'
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.2'
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.1'
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1'
patched:
  - tensorflow 1.15.4
  - tensorflow 2.0.3
  - tensorflow 2.1.2
  - tensorflow 2.2.1
  - tensorflow 2.3.1
  - tensorflow-cpu 1.15.4
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.0.3
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.1.2
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.2.1
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.3.1
  - tensorflow-gpu 1.15.4
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.0.3
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.1.2
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.2.1
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.3.1
published: '2020-09-25'
updated: '2026-07-08'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-q8gv-q7wr-9jf8'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-q8gv-q7wr-9jf8
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15204'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/9a133d73ae4b4664d22bd1aa6d654fec13c52ee1
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2020-284.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2020-319.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2020-127.yaml
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow'
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/releases/tag/v2.3.1'
  - url: 'http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00065.html'
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00903
epssPercentile: 0.58093
ingestedAt: '2026-07-08T18:25:52.129Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact
In eager mode, TensorFlow does not set the session state. Hence, calling `tf.raw_ops.GetSessionHandle` or `tf.raw_ops.GetSessionHandleV2` results in a null pointer dereference:
https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/0e68f4d3295eb0281a517c3662f6698992b7b2cf/tensorflow/core/kernels/session_ops.cc#L45

In the above snippet, in eager mode, `ctx->session_state()` returns `nullptr`. Since code immediately dereferences this, we get a segmentation fault.

### Patches
We have patched the issue in 9a133d73ae4b4664d22bd1aa6d654fec13c52ee1 and will release patch releases for all versions between 1.15 and 2.3.

We recommend users to upgrade to TensorFlow 1.15.4, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.1, or 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 < 1.15.4`
- `tensorflow >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.3`
- `tensorflow >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.2`
- `tensorflow >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.1`
- `tensorflow >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu < 1.15.4`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.2`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu < 1.15.4`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.1.0, < 2.1.2`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.1`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `tensorflow 1.15.4`
- `tensorflow 2.0.3`
- `tensorflow 2.1.2`
- `tensorflow 2.2.1`
- `tensorflow 2.3.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu 1.15.4`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.0.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.1.2`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.2.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.3.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu 1.15.4`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.0.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.1.2`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.2.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.3.1`