---
id: CVE-2022-21738
aliases:
  - GHSA-x4qx-4fjv-hmw6
  - BIT-tensorflow-2022-21738
  - PYSEC-2022-117
  - PYSEC-2022-62
  - PYSEC-2026-3258
title: Integer overflow leading to crash in Tensorflow
summary: Integer overflow leading to crash in Tensorflow
severity: medium
cvss: 6.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
vendor: tensorflow
product: tensorflow
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - tensorflow < 2.5.3
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3'
  - 'tensorflow >= 2.7.0, < 2.7.1'
  - tensorflow-cpu < 2.5.3
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3'
  - 'tensorflow-cpu >= 2.7.0, < 2.7.1'
  - tensorflow-gpu < 2.5.3
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3'
  - 'tensorflow-gpu >= 2.7.0, < 2.7.1'
patched:
  - tensorflow 2.5.3
  - tensorflow 2.6.3
  - tensorflow 2.7.1
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.5.3
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.6.3
  - tensorflow-cpu 2.7.1
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.5.3
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.6.3
  - tensorflow-gpu 2.7.1
published: '2022-02-09'
updated: '2026-09-10'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-10T03:49:12.405343171Z'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-x4qx-4fjv-hmw6'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-x4qx-4fjv-hmw6
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21738'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/6f4d3e8139ec724dbbcb40505891c81dd1052c4a
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2022-62.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2022-117.yaml
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/5100e359aef5c8021f2e71c7b986420b85ce7b3d/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L168-L273
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00789
epssPercentile: 0.5437
ingestedAt: '2026-07-13T18:58:04.940Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact 
The [implementation of `SparseCountSparseOutput`](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/5100e359aef5c8021f2e71c7b986420b85ce7b3d/tensorflow/core/kernels/count_ops.cc#L168-L273) can be made to crash a TensorFlow process by an integer overflow whose result is then used in a memory allocation:

```python
import tensorflow as tf
import numpy as np
    
tf.raw_ops.SparseCountSparseOutput(
  indices=[[1,1]],
  values=[2],
  dense_shape=[2 ** 31, 2 ** 32],
  weights=[1],
  binary_output=True,
  minlength=-1,
  maxlength=-1,
  name=None)
```

### Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [6f4d3e8139ec724dbbcb40505891c81dd1052c4a](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/6f4d3e8139ec724dbbcb40505891c81dd1052c4a).

The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.8.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.7.1, TensorFlow 2.6.3, and TensorFlow 2.5.3, 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 Faysal Hossain Shezan from University of Virginia.

## Affected packages

- `tensorflow < 2.5.3`
- `tensorflow >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3`
- `tensorflow >= 2.7.0, < 2.7.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu < 2.5.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu >= 2.7.0, < 2.7.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu < 2.5.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu >= 2.7.0, < 2.7.1`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `tensorflow 2.5.3`
- `tensorflow 2.6.3`
- `tensorflow 2.7.1`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.5.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.6.3`
- `tensorflow-cpu 2.7.1`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.5.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.6.3`
- `tensorflow-gpu 2.7.1`