protobuf-java has a potential Denial of Service issue
Summary
A potential Denial of Service issue in protobuf-java core and lite was discovered in the parsing procedure for binary and text format data. Input streams 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.
Reporter: OSS Fuzz
Affected versions: This issue affects both the Java full and lite Protobuf runtimes, as well as Protobuf for Kotlin and JRuby, which themselves use the Java Protobuf runtime.
Severity
CVE-2022-3171 Medium - CVSS Score: 5.7 (NOTE: there may be a delay in publication)
Remediation and Mitigation
Please update to the latest available versions of the following packages:
protobuf-java (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3) protobuf-javalite (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3) protobuf-kotlin (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3) protobuf-kotlin-lite (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3) google-protobuf [JRuby gem only] (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6)
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java | >= 3.21.0-rc-1, < 3.21.7, >= 3.20.0-rc-1, < 3.20.3, >= 3.17.0-rc-1, < 3.19.6, < 3.16.3 | 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3 |
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite | >= 3.21.0-rc-1, < 3.21.7, >= 3.20.0-rc-1, < 3.20.3, >= 3.17.0-rc-1, < 3.19.6, < 3.16.3 | 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3 |
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin | >= 3.21.0-rc-1, < 3.21.7, >= 3.20.0-rc-1, < 3.20.3, >= 3.17.0-rc-1, < 3.19.6, < 3.16.3 | 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3 |
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite | >= 3.21.0-rc-1, < 3.21.7, >= 3.20.0-rc-1, < 3.20.3, >= 3.17.0-rc-1, < 3.19.6, < 3.16.3 | 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3 |
References
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/security/advisories/GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-3171
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=48771
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v21.7
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v3.16.3
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v3.19.6
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v3.20.3
- https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/google-protobuf/CVE-2022-3171.yml
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CBAUKJQL6O4TIWYBENORSY5P43TVB4M3
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MPCGUT3T5L6C3IDWUPSUO22QDCGQKTOP
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202301-09
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-20- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java, com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite, com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin- Disclosed
- 04.10.2022
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 13:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite
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
- 4
- First → latest
- 10.2022 09.2024
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 3
- Medium 1
Disclosures per year
- 2022: 3
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
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