CVE-2022-35997 | `CHECK` fail in `tf.sparse.cross` in TensorFlow

TensorFlow is an open source platform for machine learning. If `tf.sparse.cross` receives an input `separator` that is not a scalar, it gives a `CHECK` fail that can be used to trigger a denial of service attack. We have patched the issue in GitHub commit 83dcb4dbfa094e33db084e97c4d0531a559e0ebf. The fix will be included in TensorFlow 2.10.0. We will also cherrypick this commit on TensorFlow 2.9.1, TensorFlow 2.8.1, and TensorFlow 2.7.2, as these are also affected and still in supported range. There are no known workarounds for this issue.

Published: 2022-09-16 Last update: 2026-06-17 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Modified，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2022-35997 is rated Low Risk (34.5/100): CVSS Medium severity, with low exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.39%). Monitor for updates and reassess as exploit intelligence or EPSS changes.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2022-35997

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-06-15 0.04% 0.39% +0.34%
2 2025-12-02 0.12% 0.04% -0.07%
3 2025-03-30 — 0.12% —

Full EPSS history (7 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2022-35997

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
5.9 3.1 MEDIUM
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 2.2 3.6 [email protected]
7.5 3.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 3.9 3.6 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2022-35997

GitHub Security Advisory for CVE-2022-35997

GHSA-p7hr-f446-x6qf · Severity: medium · Ecosystem: pip — TensorFlow vulnerable to `CHECK` fail in `tf.sparse.cross`

OS Trackers for CVE-2022-35997

vendor priority summary link
debian unimportant CVE-2022-35997 unimportant priority: Debian including 1 source packages (tensorflow), 2 status rows across 2 suites (forky, sid): resolved 2. https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2022-35997

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2022-35997

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
google tensorflow < 2.7.2 cpe:2.3:a:google:tensorflow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
google tensorflow >= 2.8.0, < 2.8.1 cpe:2.3:a:google:tensorflow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
google tensorflow >= 2.9.0, < 2.9.1 cpe:2.3:a:google:tensorflow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
google tensorflow 2.10 cpe:2.3:a:google:tensorflow:2.10:rc0:*:*:*:*:*:*
google tensorflow 2.10 cpe:2.3:a:google:tensorflow:2.10:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
google tensorflow 2.10 cpe:2.3:a:google:tensorflow:2.10:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
google tensorflow 2.10 cpe:2.3:a:google:tensorflow:2.10:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2022-35997

cvelogic Threat Intelligence