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CVE-2022-3171
Memory handling vulnerability in ProtocolBuffers Java core and lite
Medium4.3EPSS 1.3%
- Published
- Updated
- Reserved
- Assigned by
Description
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.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoogleCNA (assigner) | 3.1 | Medium4.3 | CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L |
| NVDNVD · Modified | 3.1 | High7.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 1.3% · top 30% of all CVEs (7 Nov 2026)
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: partial
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The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: Medium 4.3.
Weakness
Affected products
- affected 3.21.7 – < 3.21.7
- affected 3.20.3 – < 3.20.3
- affected 3.19.6 – < 3.19.6
- affected 3.16.3 – < 3.16.3
Affected packages
From reviewed advisories of the GitHub Advisory Database.
- Mavencom.google.protobuf:protobuf-javaGHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 (opens in a new tab)
- Mavencom.google.protobuf:protobuf-javaliteGHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 (opens in a new tab)
- Mavencom.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlinGHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 (opens in a new tab)
- Mavencom.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-liteGHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 (opens in a new tab)
- RubyGemsgoogle-protobufGHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 (opens in a new tab)
References (4)
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/security/advisories/GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 (opens in a new tab)x_transferred
- FEDORA-2022-25f35ed634 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_transferred
- GLSA-202301-09 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_transferred
- FEDORA-2022-15729fa33d (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_transferred
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2022-3171)Record last updated .