Vulnerability · Published Sep 22, 2022 · Assigned by Google
CVE-2022-1941Out of Memory issue in ProtocolBuffers for cpp and python
High 7.5
In plain English
A high-severity security flaw in protobuf-cpp from Google LLC. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 1.5% (higher than 75% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
A parsing vulnerability for the MessageSet type in the ProtocolBuffers versions prior to and including 3.16.1, 3.17.3, 3.18.2, 3.19.4, 3.20.1 and 3.21.5 for protobuf-cpp, and versions prior to and including 3.16.1, 3.17.3, 3.18.2, 3.19.4, 3.20.1 and 4.21.5 for protobuf-python can lead to out of memory failures. A specially crafted message with multiple key-value per elements creates parsing issues, and can lead to a Denial of Service against services receiving unsanitized input. We recommend upgrading to versions 3.18.3, 3.19.5, 3.20.2, 3.21.6 for protobuf-cpp and 3.18.3, 3.19.5, 3.20.2, 4.21.6 for protobuf-python. Versions for 3.16 and 3.17 are no longer updated.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:9 | protobuf | 3.14.0-16.el9 | ALSA-2025:7138 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | protobuf-compiler | 3.14.0-16.el9 | ALSA-2025:7138 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | protobuf-devel | 3.14.0-16.el9 | ALSA-2025:7138 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | protobuf-lite | 3.14.0-16.el9 | ALSA-2025:7138 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | protobuf-lite-devel | 3.14.0-16.el9 | ALSA-2025:7138 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | python3-protobuf | 3.14.0-16.el9 | ALSA-2025:7138 |
| Debian:12 | protobuf | 3.21.9-3 | DEBIAN-CVE-2022-1941 |
| Debian:13 | protobuf | 3.21.9-3 | DEBIAN-CVE-2022-1941 |
| Debian:14 | protobuf | 3.21.9-3 | DEBIAN-CVE-2022-1941 |
| PyPI | protobuf | 3.18.3 | GHSA-8gq9-2x98-w8hf |
| PyPI | protobuf | 3.19.5 | GHSA-8gq9-2x98-w8hf |
| PyPI | protobuf | 3.20.2 | GHSA-8gq9-2x98-w8hf |
| PyPI | protobuf | 4.21.6 | GHSA-8gq9-2x98-w8hf |
| PyPI | protobuf | 3.18.3, 3.19.5, 3.20.2, 4.21.6 | PYSEC-2026-899 |
| Rocky Linux:9 | protobuf | 0:3.14.0-16.el9 | RLSA-2025:7138 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | protobuf | 3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1 | USN-5945-1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | protobuf | 3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1 | UBUNTU-CVE-2022-1941 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Google LLC | protobuf-cpp | unspecified – through 3.16.1unspecified – through 3.17.3unspecified – through 3.18.2unspecified – through 3.19.4unspecified – through 3.20.1unspecified – through 3.21.5 |
| Google LLC | protobuf-python | unspecified – through 3.16.1unspecified – through 3.17.3unspecified – through 3.18.2unspecified – through 3.19.4unspecified – through 3.20.1unspecified – through 4.21.5 |
Weakness: CWE-1286 · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
References
- https://cloud.google.com/support/bulletins#GCP-2022-019
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/security/advisories/GHSA-8gq9-2x98-w8hf
- [oss-security] 20220927 CVE-2022-1941: Protobuf C++, Python DoS mailing-list
- FEDORA-2022-25f35ed634 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20230418 [SECURITY] [DLA 3393-1] protobuf security update mailing-list
- FEDORA-2022-15729fa33d vendor-advisory
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240705-0001/