Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-37655 is a TensorFlow memory-safety flaw. Invalid inputs to a low-level tensor update operation can make TensorFlow read outside allocated heap memory, risking data exposure and process disruption in affected installations.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority dependency update for ML environments, especially shared research, notebook, or job-execution platforms. It is not currently evidenced as actively exploited in the provided sources.
Technical view
`tf.raw_ops.ResourceScatterUpdate` validated `indices` and `updates` shape relationships incompletely, checking divisibility rather than requiring `indices` to be a prefix of `updates`. This can trigger a heap out-of-bounds read. TensorFlow patched it in commit 01cff3f986259d661103412a20745928c727326f.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to TensorFlow deployments running affected versions: 2.5.0 before 2.5.1, 2.4.x before 2.4.3, or versions before 2.3.4. Risk is highest where untrusted users or workloads can supply TensorFlow operation arguments.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates local access with low privileges, low complexity, and no user interaction. The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence, so exploitation in the wild should not be assumed.
Researcher notes
The issue is CWE-125 heap out-of-bounds read in TensorFlow resource variable operations. Avoid assuming remote exploitability unless the deployment lets untrusted actors reach TensorFlow execution paths. Public evidence provided names the fix commit and patched release targets.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade TensorFlow to 2.6.0 or later where feasible.
- Apply fixed supported releases: 2.5.1, 2.4.3, or 2.3.4.
- Rebuild application images and environments that package vulnerable TensorFlow versions.
- Restrict untrusted TensorFlow workload submission until patched.
- Check TensorFlow advisory for branch-specific vendor guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory TensorFlow versions across applications, notebooks, jobs, and containers.
- Check dependency lockfiles and SBOMs for affected TensorFlow ranges.
- Confirm runtime environments load patched TensorFlow versions.
- Identify workflows where untrusted users can invoke TensorFlow operations.
- Document patch status and remaining unsupported TensorFlow deployments.
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
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-37655 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
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:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H1.85.5Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.3HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-7fvx-3jfc-2cpcCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/01cff3f986259d661103412a20745928c727326fCVE 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.
Out-of-bounds Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.