protobufjs is vulnerable to ReDoS when parsing crafted invalid .proto files.
Priority LOW 27CWE-770Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-770.
Summary
protobufjs is vulnerable to ReDoS when parsing crafted invalid .proto files.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00943 61st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed protobufjs (npm): 6.8.6, 5.0.3
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HackerOne | protobufjs node module | Versions up to and including 6.8.5 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| — | protobufjs (npm) | 6.0.0 to before 6.8.6 | 6.8.6 | Patch available | GHSA-762f-c2wg-m8c8 |
| — | protobufjs (npm) | before 5.0.3 | 5.0.3 | Patch available | GHSA-762f-c2wg-m8c8 |
- protobufjs node module VendorHackerOne Affected Versions up to and including 6.8.5 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- protobufjs (npm) Vendor— Affected 6.0.0 to before 6.8.6 Fixed in 6.8.6 Patch available GHSA-762f-c2wg-m8c8
- protobufjs (npm) Vendor— Affected before 5.0.3 Fixed in 5.0.3 Patch available GHSA-762f-c2wg-m8c8
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:protobufjs_project:protobufjs:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | up to 6.8.5 | Vulnerable | protobufjs |
- cpe:2.3:a:protobufjs_project:protobufjs:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions up to 6.8.5 Vulnerable ·protobufjs
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-762f-c2wg-m8c8 protobufjs (npm) Fixed in 6.8.6 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-762f-c2wg-m8c8 protobufjs (npm) Fixed in 5.0.3 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-3738
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-762f-c2wg-m8c8
References
More Protobufjs vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-29851 protobufjs has an arbitrary code execution issue CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.4
- TI-2023-18481 "protobuf.js (aka protobufjs) 6.10.0 through 7.x before 7.2.5 allows Prototype Pollution… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-32260 protobufjs: Denial of service through unbounded protobuf recursion CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2022-09438 Prototype pollution in protobufjs CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
- TI-2026-42691 protobufjs: Denial of Service via infinite loop in .proto option parsing CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-35993 protobufjs: Denial of service through unbounded Any expansion during JSON conversion CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2018-3738 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-3738 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-762f-c2wg-m8c8 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences