Home/CVE/A parsing issue with binary data in protobuf-java core and lite versions prior to 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6 and 3.16.3 can
CVE

CVE-2022-3171

A parsing issue with binary data in protobuf-java core and lite versions prior to 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6 and 3.16.3 can

A parsing issue with binary data in protobuf-java core and lite versions prior to 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6 and 3.16.3 can lead to a denial of service attack. Inputs containing multiple instances of non-repeated embedded messages with repeated or unknown fields causes objects to be converted back-n-forth between mutable and immutable forms, resulting in potentially long garbage collection pauses. We recommend updating to the versions mentioned above.

MEDIUM · CVSS 4.3 EPSS 0.0011
Monitor
  • No active-exploitation, high-EPSS, or public-exploit signals - routine patching cadence
Sigma rules0 YARA rules0

Weakness Classification

Affected Products & Versions

21
google google-protobuf>= 3.17.0 and < 3.19.6
google google-protobuf>= 3.20.0 and < 3.20.3
google google-protobuf>= 3.21.0 and < 3.21.7
google protobuf-java>= 3.17.0 and < 3.19.6
google protobuf-java>= 3.20.0 and < 3.20.3
google protobuf-java>= 3.21.0 and < 3.21.7

Affected Packages

5
Language-ecosystem packages (from OSV) tied to this CVE, with the version that fixes it - the dependency-level detail NVD doesn’t carry.
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java MODERATE fixed in 3.21.7
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite MODERATE fixed in 3.21.7
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin MODERATE fixed in 3.21.7
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite MODERATE fixed in 3.21.7
RubyGems google-protobuf MODERATE fixed in 3.21.7

Scoring & Timeline

4.3
MEDIUM · CVSS v3.1 · cve-coordination@google.com
View on NVD
Attack Vector
Network Adjacent Local Physical
Attack Complexity
Low High
Privileges Required
None Low High
User Interaction
None Required
Scope
Unchanged Changed
Confidentiality
None Low High
Integrity
None Low High
Availability
None Low High
Published to NVD12 Oct 2022 · 11:15 PM
CVSS VectorCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
SSVC triage · cisa-vulnrichment
Exploitation
none
Automatable
no
Technical impact
partial
SSVC asks the questions that actually drive patch urgency: is it being exploited, can attacks be automated, and how total is the impact.

Vendor Advisories

10
rhsaRHSA-2024:3527Moderate
suse-csafSUSE-SU-2023:2783-2
suse-csafSUSE-SU-2023:2783-1
rhsaRHSA-2023:4983Important
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