Parsing issue in protobuf message-type extension
Priority MEDIUM 40CWE-400Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 3 fixed, 11 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-400.
Summary
A parsing issue similar to CVE-2022-3171, but with Message-Type Extensions 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.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00717 54th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial ProtocolBuffers (Google): 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6 +1com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven): 3.16.3, 3.19.6, 3.20.3 +1+1 more productRed Hat: 3 advisoriesRed Hat: 3 fixed, 11 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProtocolBuffers | 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7; 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3; 3.19.0 to before 3.19.6; 3.16.0 to before 3.16.3 | 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3 | Patch available | CNA | |
| — | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) | 3.0.0 to before 3.16.3 | 3.16.3 | Patch available | GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 |
| — | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) | 3.17.0 to before 3.19.6 | 3.19.6 | Patch available | GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 |
| — | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) | 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3 | 3.20.3 | Patch available | GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 |
| — | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) | 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7 | 3.21.7 | Patch available | GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 |
| — | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) | 3.0.0 to before 3.16.3 | 3.16.3 | Patch available | GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 |
| — | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) | 3.17.0 to before 3.19.6 | 3.19.6 | Patch available | GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 |
| — | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) | 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3 | 3.20.3 | Patch available | GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 |
| — | com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) | 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7 | 3.21.7 | Patch available | GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 |
- ProtocolBuffers VendorGoogle Affected 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7; 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3; 3.19.0 to before 3.19.6; 3.16.0 to before 3.16.3 Fixed in 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3 Patch available CNA
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.0.0 to before 3.16.3 Fixed in 3.16.3 Patch available GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.17.0 to before 3.19.6 Fixed in 3.19.6 Patch available GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3 Fixed in 3.20.3 Patch available GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7 Fixed in 3.21.7 Patch available GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.0.0 to before 3.16.3 Fixed in 3.16.3 Patch available GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.17.0 to before 3.19.6 Fixed in 3.19.6 Patch available GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3 Fixed in 3.20.3 Patch available GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7 Fixed in 3.21.7 Patch available GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:google:protobuf-java:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.16.0 to before 3.16.3; 3.19.0 to before 3.19.6; 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3; 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7 | Vulnerable | |
| cpe:2.3:a:google:protobuf-javalite:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.16.0 to before 3.16.3; 3.17.0 to before 3.19.6; 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3; 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7 | Vulnerable |
- cpe:2.3:a:google:protobuf-java:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.16.0 to before 3.16.3; 3.19.0 to before 3.19.6; 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3; 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7 Vulnerable ·Google
- cpe:2.3:a:google:protobuf-javalite:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.16.0 to before 3.16.3; 3.17.0 to before 3.19.6; 3.20.0 to before 3.20.3; 3.21.0 to before 3.21.7 Vulnerable ·Google
Remediation
- Fix · CNA ProtocolBuffers (Google) Fixed in 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, 3.16.3
- Fix · GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) Fixed in 3.16.3 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) Fixed in 3.19.6 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) Fixed in 3.20.3 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) Fixed in 3.21.7 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) Fixed in 3.16.3 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) Fixed in 3.19.6 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) Fixed in 3.20.3 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) Fixed in 3.21.7 Advisory →
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2023:4983 Released 2023-09-05 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat Process Automation Manager 7.13.4 security update
- RHPAM 7.13.4 async
- RHSA-2023:3815 Released 2023-06-27 · Red Hat rating ImportantService Registry (container images) release and security update [2.4.3 GA]
- RHINT Service Registry 2.4.3 GA
- RHSA-2023:1855 Released 2023-04-18 · Red Hat rating ModerateRed Hat JBoss EAP 7.4.10 XP 4.0.0.GA security release
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Expansion Pack
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Migration Toolkit for Applications 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Migration Toolkit for Runtimes | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Data Grid 8 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Decision Manager 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Fuse 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat JBoss Data Virtualization 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Expansion Pack | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat JBoss Fuse 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat JBoss Fuse Service Works 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Process Automation 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat build of Debezium 1 | Affected | No fix yet |
| RHINT Service Registry 2.4.3 GA | Fixed | RHSA-2023:3815 |
| RHPAM 7.13.4 async | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4983 |
| Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform Expansion Pack | Fixed | RHSA-2023:1855 |
Not affected: 12 products
- A-MQ Clients 2
- Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift
- OpenShift Developer Tools and Services
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat Integration Camel Quarkus 2
- Red Hat JBoss Data Grid 7
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- Red Hat Single Sign-On 7
- Red Hat build of Quarkus
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-3510
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7
References
More Google Protobuf-java vulnerabilities
- TI-2021-05523 Denial of Service of protobuf-java parsing procedure CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2024-06719 Stack overflow in Protocol Buffers Java Lite CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2022-03237 Parsing issue in protobuf textformat CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2022-02927 Memory handling vulnerability in ProtocolBuffers Java core and lite CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2022-3510 · CVE Program
- CVE-2022-3510 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4gg5-vx3j-xwc7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2022-3510 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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