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Insecure temporary file in Tensorflow

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Feb 2, 2022 in tensorflow/tensorflow • Updated Feb 3, 2023

Package

pip tensorflow (pip)

Affected versions

< 2.5.3
>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3
= 2.7.0

Patched versions

2.5.3
2.6.3
2.7.1
pip tensorflow-cpu (pip)
< 2.5.3
>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3
= 2.7.0
2.5.3
2.6.3
2.7.1
pip tensorflow-gpu (pip)
< 2.5.3
>= 2.6.0, < 2.6.3
= 2.7.0
2.5.3
2.6.3
2.7.1

Description

Impact

In multiple places, TensorFlow uses tempfile.mktemp to create temporary files. While this is acceptable in testing, in utilities and libraries it is dangerous as a different process can create the file between the check for the filename in mktemp and the actual creation of the file by a subsequent operation (a TOC/TOU type of weakness).

In several instances, TensorFlow was supposed to actually create a temporary directory instead of a file. This logic bug is hidden away by the mktemp function usage.

Patches

We have patched the issue in several commits, replacing mktemp with the safer mkstemp/mkdtemp functions, according to the usage pattern.
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 for more information regarding the security model and how to contact us with issues and questions.

Attribution

This vulnerability has been reported on huntr.dev for one scenario and discovered via variant analysis on other instances.

References

@mihaimaruseac mihaimaruseac published to tensorflow/tensorflow Feb 2, 2022
Reviewed Feb 3, 2022
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Feb 4, 2022
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Feb 9, 2022
Last updated Feb 3, 2023

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

EPSS score

0.042%
(5th percentile)

Weaknesses

CVE ID

CVE-2022-23563

GHSA ID

GHSA-wc4g-r73w-x8mm

Source code

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