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CVE-2022-3171

Memory handling vulnerability in ProtocolBuffers Java core and lite

HIGH
7.5
CVSS Score
Published: October 12, 2022 at 12:00 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 04:58 AM UTC
7 products affected across 2 vendorsFedoraProtobuf JavaProtobuf Javalite

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Severity
HIGH7.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 1%
SSVC
No known exploit

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

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Fedora· Fedora Projectrpm
95%
37
Google Protobuf· Googlerubygems
95%
v < 3.16.33.17.0 ≤ v < 3.19.63.20.0 ≤ v < 3.20.33.21.0 ≤ v < 3.21.7
Affected range stops below 3.16.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.19.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.20.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.21.7, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Protobuf Java· Google
95%
v < 3.16.33.17.0 ≤ v < 3.19.63.20.0 ≤ v < 3.20.33.21.0 ≤ v < 3.21.7
Affected range stops below 3.16.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.19.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.20.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.21.7, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Protobuf Javalite· Google
95%
v < 3.16.33.17.0 ≤ v < 3.19.63.20.0 ≤ v < 3.20.33.21.0 ≤ v < 3.21.7
Affected range stops below 3.16.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.19.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.20.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.21.7, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Protobuf Kotlin· Google
95%
v < 3.16.33.17.0 ≤ v < 3.19.63.20.0 ≤ v < 3.20.33.21.0 ≤ v < 3.21.7
Affected range stops below 3.16.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.19.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.20.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.21.7, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Protobuf Kotlin Lite· Google
95%
v < 3.16.33.17.0 ≤ v < 3.19.63.20.0 ≤ v < 3.20.33.21.0 ≤ v < 3.21.7
Affected range stops below 3.16.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.19.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.20.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.21.7, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Protobuf· Googlerubygems
60%
v < 3.16.3v < 3.19.6v < 3.20.3v < 3.21.7
Affected range stops below 3.16.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.19.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.20.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.21.7, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

References (4)

Third Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/security/advisories/GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2
Vendor Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CBAUKJQL6O4TIWYBENORSY5P43TVB4M3/
Vendor Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MPCGUT3T5L6C3IDWUPSUO22QDCGQKTOP/
Vendor AdvisoryThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202301-09

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.5HIGH[email protected]
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-20NVD-CWE-noinfo

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