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GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2

GitHub Security Advisory

protobuf-java has a potential Denial of Service issue

✓ GitHub Reviewed MODERATE Has CVE

Advisory 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](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.

Reporter: [OSS Fuzz](https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=48771)

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](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)

## 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 Packages

Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java
Affected versions: 3.21.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.21.7)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin
Affected versions: 3.21.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.21.7)
RubyGems google-protobuf
Affected versions: 3.21.0.rc.1 (fixed in 3.21.7)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite
Affected versions: 3.21.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.21.7)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite
Affected versions: 3.21.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.21.7)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java
Affected versions: 3.20.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.20.3)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java
Affected versions: 3.17.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.19.6)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java
Affected versions: 0 (fixed in 3.16.3)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin
Affected versions: 3.20.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.20.3)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin
Affected versions: 3.17.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.19.6)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin
Affected versions: 0 (fixed in 3.16.3)
RubyGems google-protobuf
Affected versions: 3.20.0.rc.1 (fixed in 3.20.3)
RubyGems google-protobuf
Affected versions: 3.17.0.rc.1 (fixed in 3.19.6)
RubyGems google-protobuf
Affected versions: 0 (fixed in 3.16.3)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite
Affected versions: 3.20.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.20.3)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite
Affected versions: 3.17.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.19.6)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite
Affected versions: 0 (fixed in 3.16.3)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite
Affected versions: 3.20.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.20.3)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite
Affected versions: 3.17.0-rc-1 (fixed in 3.19.6)
Maven com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite
Affected versions: 0 (fixed in 3.16.3)

Related CVEs

Key Information

GHSA ID
GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2
Published
October 4, 2022 10:17 PM
Last Modified
October 4, 2022 10:17 PM
CVSS Score
5.0 /10
Primary Ecosystem
Maven
Primary Package
com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java
GitHub Reviewed
✓ Yes

Dataset

Last updated: July 6, 2025 6:30 AM

Data from GitHub Advisory Database. This information is provided for research and educational purposes.