---
id: CVE-2021-41216
aliases:
  - GHSA-3ff2-r28g-w7h9
  - BIT-tensorflow-2021-41216
  - PYSEC-2021-408
  - PYSEC-2021-625
  - PYSEC-2021-823
title: Heap buffer overflow in `Transpose`
summary: Heap buffer overflow in `Transpose`
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
vendor: tensorflow
product: tensorflow
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1'
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2'
  - tensorflow < 2.4.4
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1'
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2'
  - tensorflow-cpu < 2.4.4
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1'
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2'
  - tensorflow-gpu < 2.4.4
patched:
  - tensorflow 2.6.1
  - tensorflow 2.5.2
  - tensorflow 2.4.4
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.6.1
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.5.2
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.4.4
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.6.1
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.5.2
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.4.4
published: '2021-11-10'
updated: '2026-07-08'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-3ff2-r28g-w7h9'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-3ff2-r28g-w7h9
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41216'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/c79ba87153ee343401dbe9d1954d7f79e521eb14
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2021-625.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2021-823.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow/PYSEC-2021-408.yaml
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8d72537c6abf5a44103b57b9c2e22c14f5f49698/tensorflow/core/ops/array_ops.cc#L121-L185
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00161
epssPercentile: 0.04562
ingestedAt: '2026-07-08T18:25:44.900Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact
The [shape inference function for `Transpose`](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/8d72537c6abf5a44103b57b9c2e22c14f5f49698/tensorflow/core/ops/array_ops.cc#L121-L185) is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow:

```python
import tensorflow as tf
@tf.function
def test():
  y = tf.raw_ops.Transpose(x=[1,2,3,4],perm=[-10])
  return y

test()
```

This occurs whenever `perm` contains negative elements. The shape inference function does not validate that the indices in `perm` are all valid:
        
```cc
for (int32_t i = 0; i < rank; ++i) {
  int64_t in_idx = data[i];
  if (in_idx >= rank) {
    return errors::InvalidArgument("perm dim ", in_idx,
                                   " is out of range of input rank ", rank);
  }
  dims[i] = c->Dim(input, in_idx);
}
```

where `Dim(tensor, index)` accepts either a positive index less than the rank of the tensor or the special value `-1` for unknown dimensions.

### Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [c79ba87153ee343401dbe9d1954d7f79e521eb14](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/c79ba87153ee343401dbe9d1954d7f79e521eb14).

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.7.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.6.1, TensorFlow 2.5.2, and TensorFlow 2.4.4, 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 >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1`
- `tensorflow >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2`
- `tensorflow < 2.4.4`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2`
- `tensorflow-cpu < 2.4.4`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.5.0, < 2.5.2`
- `tensorflow-gpu < 2.4.4`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `tensorflow 2.6.1`
- `tensorflow 2.5.2`
- `tensorflow 2.4.4`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.6.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.5.2`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.4.4`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.6.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.5.2`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.4.4`