---
id: CVE-2021-37638
aliases:
  - GHSA-hwr7-8gxx-fj5p
  - BIT-tensorflow-2021-37638
  - PYSEC-2021-260
  - PYSEC-2021-551
  - PYSEC-2021-749
title: Null pointer dereference in `RaggedTensorToTensor`
summary: Null pointer dereference in `RaggedTensorToTensor`
severity: high
cvss: 7.7
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H'
vendor: tensorflow
product: tensorflow
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - tensorflow < 2.3.4
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3'
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1'
  - tensorflow-cpu < 2.3.4
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3'
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1'
  - tensorflow-gpu < 2.3.4
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3'
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1'
patched:
  - tensorflow 2.3.4
  - tensorflow 2.4.3
  - tensorflow 2.5.1
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.3.4
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.4.3
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.5.1
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.3.4
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.4.3
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.5.1
published: '2021-08-25'
updated: '2026-07-08'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-hwr7-8gxx-fj5p'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-hwr7-8gxx-fj5p
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37638'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/301ae88b331d37a2a16159b65b255f4f9eb39314
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-551.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-749.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-260.yaml
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow'
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00167
epssPercentile: 0.05335
ingestedAt: '2026-07-08T18:25:50.336Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact
Sending invalid argument for `row_partition_types` of `tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor` API results in a null pointer dereference and undefined behavior:

```python
import tensorflow as tf

tf.raw_ops.RaggedTensorToTensor(
  shape=1,
  values=10,
  default_value=21,
  row_partition_tensors=tf.constant([0,0,0,0]),
  row_partition_types=[])
```

The [implementation](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/47a06f40411a69c99f381495f490536972152ac0/tensorflow/core/kernels/ragged_tensor_to_tensor_op.cc#L328) accesses the first element of a user supplied list of values without validating that the provided list is not empty.

### Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [301ae88b331d37a2a16159b65b255f4f9eb39314](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/301ae88b331d37a2a16159b65b255f4f9eb39314).

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.6.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.5.1, TensorFlow 2.4.3, and TensorFlow 2.3.4, 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 members of the Aivul Team from Qihoo 360.

## Affected packages

- `tensorflow < 2.3.4`
- `tensorflow >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3`
- `tensorflow >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu < 2.3.4`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu < 2.3.4`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.4.0, < 2.4.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.1`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `tensorflow 2.3.4`
- `tensorflow 2.4.3`
- `tensorflow 2.5.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.3.4`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.4.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.5.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.3.4`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.4.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.5.1`