GCVE Workshop - 22 September 2026 (14:00-18:00), Luxembourg Before The Vulnopticon Conference - Registration

GHSA-H4H5-3HR4-J3G2

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-10-04 22:17 – Updated: 2022-10-04 22:17
VLAI
Summary
protobuf-java has a potential Denial of Service issue
Details

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)

Severity
5.7 (Medium)
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Show details on source website
To clipboard 

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.21.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.21.7"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.21.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.21.7"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "RubyGems",
        "name": "google-protobuf"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.21.0.rc.1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.21.7"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.21.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.21.7"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.21.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.21.7"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.20.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.20.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.17.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.19.6"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.16.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.20.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.20.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.17.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.19.6"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.16.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "RubyGems",
        "name": "google-protobuf"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.20.0.rc.1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.20.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "RubyGems",
        "name": "google-protobuf"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.17.0.rc.1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.19.6"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "RubyGems",
        "name": "google-protobuf"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.16.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.20.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.20.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.17.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.19.6"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.16.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.20.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.20.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "3.17.0-rc-1"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.19.6"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Maven",
        "name": "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.16.3"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2022-3171"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-20"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2022-10-04T22:17:15Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2022-10-12T23:15:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "## Summary\nA 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](http://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/docs/encoding#embedded) 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. \n\nReporter: [OSS Fuzz](https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=48771)\n\nAffected 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.\n\n## Severity\n\n[CVE-2022-3171](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-3171) Medium - CVSS Score: 5.7 (NOTE: there may be a delay in publication)\n\n## Remediation and Mitigation\n\nPlease update to the latest available versions of the following packages:\n\nprotobuf-java (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3)\nprotobuf-javalite (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3)\nprotobuf-kotlin (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3)\nprotobuf-kotlin-lite (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3)\ngoogle-protobuf [JRuby gem only] (3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6)\n",
  "id": "GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2",
  "modified": "2022-10-04T22:17:15Z",
  "published": "2022-10-04T22:17:15Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/security/advisories/GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-3171"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=48771"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v21.7"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v3.16.3"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v3.19.6"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v3.20.3"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/google-protobuf/CVE-2022-3171.yml"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CBAUKJQL6O4TIWYBENORSY5P43TVB4M3"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MPCGUT3T5L6C3IDWUPSUO22QDCGQKTOP"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202301-09"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "protobuf-java has a potential Denial of Service issue"
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.


Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.