---
id: CVE-2022-23588
aliases:
  - GHSA-fx5c-h9f6-rv7c
  - BIT-tensorflow-2022-23588
  - PYSEC-2022-152
  - PYSEC-2022-97
  - PYSEC-2026-3181
title: '`CHECK`-fails due to attempting to build a reference tensor'
summary: '`CHECK`-fails due to attempting to build a reference tensor'
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: '2026-07-13'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-fx5c-h9f6-rv7c'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-fx5c-h9f6-rv7c
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23588'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/6b5adc0877de832b2a7c189532dbbbc64622eeb6
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-cpu/PYSEC-2022-97.yaml
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/tensorflow-gpu/PYSEC-2022-152.yaml
  - url: 'https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/a1320ec1eac186da1d03f033109191f715b2b130/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor.cc#L733-L781
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/a1320ec1eac186da1d03f033109191f715b2b130/tensorflow/core/grappler/optimizers/constant_folding.cc#L1328-L1402
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00872
epssPercentile: 0.57077
ingestedAt: '2026-07-13T18:57:57.958Z'
---

## Overview

### Impact
A malicious user can cause a denial of service by altering a `SavedModel` such that [Grappler optimizer would attempt to build a tensor using a reference `dtype`](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/a1320ec1eac186da1d03f033109191f715b2b130/tensorflow/core/grappler/optimizers/constant_folding.cc#L1328-L1402). This would result in a crash due to a `CHECK`-fail [in the `Tensor` constructor](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/a1320ec1eac186da1d03f033109191f715b2b130/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor.cc#L733-L781) as reference types are not allowed.
### Patches
We have patched the issue in GitHub commit [6b5adc0877de832b2a7c189532dbbbc64622eeb6](https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/6b5adc0877de832b2a7c189532dbbbc64622eeb6).
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.

## 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`