Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-29553 is a low-severity TensorFlow flaw in a raw quantization operation. A user who can run crafted TensorFlow workloads may trigger an out-of-bounds heap read because an axis value was not validated. The published CVSS indicates limited impact, focused on availability rather than confidentiality or integrity.
Executive priority
Treat this as routine patch management unless TensorFlow is exposed through shared or user-controlled ML execution environments. The public sources rate severity low and do not indicate active exploitation, but vulnerable ML platforms should still be updated during the normal maintenance cycle.
Technical view
TensorFlow `tf.raw_ops.QuantizeAndDequantizeV3` failed to validate the user-supplied `axis` attribute before indexing the array backing `input`. Sources classify this as CWE-125. Affected versions include TensorFlow before 2.1.4 and selected 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 release ranges before their patched maintenance releases.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in ML platforms, notebooks, batch jobs, or services running vulnerable TensorFlow versions where less-trusted users can submit TensorFlow workloads or influence raw operation attributes. Ordinary systems not using TensorFlow, or already on fixed releases, are not indicated as affected by the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. CVSS lists local access, high attack complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and low availability impact. The sources do not provide evidence of remote unauthenticated exploitation.
Researcher notes
The root issue is missing validation of `axis` before indexing tensor shape-related data in `quantize_and_dequantize_op.cc`. The provided commit is the primary fix reference. Evidence is sufficient for affected-version triage, but the bundle does not include runtime crash details or exploitation observations.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade TensorFlow to 2.5.0 or a named patched maintenance release.
- Use 2.4.2, 2.3.3, 2.2.3, or 2.1.4 where those branches apply.
- Prioritize shared ML environments accepting less-trusted workloads.
- Review TensorFlow vendor guidance for branch-specific upgrade constraints.
- Avoid running untrusted TensorFlow workloads on vulnerable versions until patched.
Validation and detection
- Inventory TensorFlow versions in applications, notebooks, containers, and dependency lockfiles.
- Confirm versions are outside the affected ranges listed in the source bundle.
- Search code for `tf.raw_ops.QuantizeAndDequantizeV3` usage.
- Check ML services for user-submitted graphs, models, or tensor-processing jobs.
- Record whether compensating controls limit untrusted workload execution.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
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CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-29553 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Low
- CVSS
- 2.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L11.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
2.5LowVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-h9px-9vqg-222hCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/99085e8ff02c3763a0ec2263e44daec416f6a387CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.