Vulnerability · Published Oct 12, 2022 · Assigned by Google
CVE-2022-3171Memory handling vulnerability in ProtocolBuffers Java core and lite
Medium 4.3
In plain English
A medium-severity improper input validation in Protocolbuffers 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 1.3% (higher than 70% of all known vulnerabilities). Ready-made attack tooling exists: public proof-of-concept code. Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official 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.
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | protobuf | 3.21.9-3 | DEBIAN-CVE-2022-3171 |
| Debian:13 | protobuf | 3.21.9-3 | DEBIAN-CVE-2022-3171 |
| Debian:14 | protobuf | 3.21.9-3 | DEBIAN-CVE-2022-3171 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java | 3.16.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java | 3.21.7 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java | 3.20.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java | 3.19.6 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite | 3.20.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite | 3.16.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite | 3.21.7 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite | 3.19.6 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin | 3.21.7 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin | 3.20.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin | 3.19.6 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin | 3.16.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite | 3.19.6 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite | 3.21.7 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite | 3.20.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Maven | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite | 3.16.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| RubyGems | google-protobuf | 3.19.6 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| RubyGems | google-protobuf | 3.21.7 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| RubyGems | google-protobuf | 3.20.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| RubyGems | google-protobuf | 3.16.3 | GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | protobuf | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2022-3171 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Google LLC | Protocolbuffers | 3.21.7 – before 3.21.73.20.3 – before 3.20.33.19.6 – before 3.19.63.16.3 – before 3.16.3 |
Weakness: CWE-20 · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
References
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/security/advisories/GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2
- FEDORA-2022-25f35ed634 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-202301-09 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2022-15729fa33d vendor-advisory