SnappyFrameDecoder doesn't restrict chunk length any may buffer skippable chunks in an unnecessary way
Impact
The Snappy frame decoder function doesn't restrict the chunk length which may lead to excessive memory usage. Beside this it also may buffer reserved skippable chunks until the whole chunk was received which may lead to excessive memory usage as well.
This vulnerability can be triggered by supplying malicious input that decompresses to a very big size (via a network stream or a file) or by sending a huge skippable chunk.
Impact
All users of SnappyFrameDecoder are affected and so the application may be in risk for a DoS attach due excessive memory usage.
References
https://github.com/netty/netty/blob/netty-4.1.67.Final/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFrameDecoder.java#L79 https://github.com/netty/netty/blob/netty-4.1.67.Final/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFrameDecoder.java#L171 https://github.com/netty/netty/blob/netty-4.1.67.Final/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFrameDecoder.java#L185
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | io.netty:netty | all versions | no fix |
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | io.netty:netty-codec | >= 4.0.0, < 4.1.68.Final | 4.1.68.Final |
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.jboss.netty:netty | all versions | no fix |
References
- https://github.com/netty/netty/security/advisories/GHSA-9vjp-v76f-g363
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37137
- https://github.com/netty/netty/commit/6da4956b31023ae967451e1d94ff51a746a9194f
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5316
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220210-0012
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/01/msg00008.html
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rfb2bf8597e53364ccab212fbcbb2a4e9f0a9e1429b1dc08023c6868e@%3Cdev.tinkerpop.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd262f59b1586a108e320e5c966feeafbb1b8cdc96965debc7cc10b16@%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r75490c61c2cb7b6ae2c81238fd52ae13636c60435abcd732d41531a0@%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r5e05eba32476c580412f9fbdfc9b8782d5b40558018ac4ac07192a04@%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r5406eaf3b07577d233b9f07cfc8f26e28369e6bab5edfcab41f28abb@%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r06a145c9bd41a7344da242cef07977b24abe3349161ede948e30913d@%3Ccommits.druid.apache.org%3E
- https://github.com/netty/netty/blob/4.1/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFrameDecoder.java#L79
- https://github.com/netty/netty/blob/4.1/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFrameDecoder.java#L185
- https://github.com/netty/netty/blob/4.1/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFrameDecoder.java#L171
- https://github.com/netty/netty
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-400- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
io.netty:netty, io.netty:netty-codec, org.jboss.netty:netty- Disclosed
- 09.09.2021
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-9vjp-v76f-g363 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: io.netty:netty-codec
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 5
- First → latest
- 09.2021 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 4
- Medium 1
Disclosures per year
- 2021: 2
- 2022: 0
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 2
-
SnappyFrameDecoder doesn't restrict chunk length any may buffer skippable chunks in an unnecessary way this entry
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