# CVE-2022-3171: protobuf-java has a potential Denial of Service issue

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-3171-protobuf-java-has-a-potential-denial-of-service-issue  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-10-04  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2022-3171 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2022-10-04

protobuf-java has a potential Denial of Service issue

Technologies: [com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/com-google-protobuf-protobuf-java), [com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/com-google-protobuf-protobuf-javalite), [com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin (Maven)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/com-google-protobuf-protobuf-kotlin), [google-protobuf (RubyGems)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/rubygems-google-protobuf). Vendors: [Maven](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/maven), [RubyGems](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rubygems).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2022-3171 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2022-3171 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2022-3171?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 4 October 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=3.21.0-rc-1,fixed=3.21.7; com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=3.21.0-rc-1,fixed=3.21.7; com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=3.21.0-rc-1,fixed=3.21.7; com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=3.21.0-rc-1,fixed=3.21.7; and 1 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2022-3171?** Yes. com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later; com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later; com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin (Maven): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later; com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite (Maven): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later; google-protobuf (RubyGems): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2022-3171?** Check whether you run com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven), com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven), com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin (Maven) or one of the others listed at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later

  ```sh
  # set com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java to 3.21.7 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```

- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later

  ```sh
  # set com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite to 3.21.7 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```

- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin (Maven): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later

  ```sh
  # set com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin to 3.21.7 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```

- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite (Maven): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later

  ```sh
  # set com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite to 3.21.7 in your pom.xml or build.gradle
  ```

- google-protobuf (RubyGems): upgrade to 3.21.7 or later

  ```sh
  bundle update google-protobuf
  ```


## Affected products

- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=3.21.0-rc-1,fixed=3.21.7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-javalite (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=3.21.0-rc-1,fixed=3.21.7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=3.21.0-rc-1,fixed=3.21.7
- com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin-lite (Maven) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=3.21.0-rc-1,fixed=3.21.7
- google-protobuf (RubyGems) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=3.21.0.rc.1,fixed=3.21.7

## Identifiers

- CVE-2022-3171
- GHSA-h4h5-3hr4-j3g2

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