`CVE-2021-22569` google protobuf-java

Affected software	google protobuf-java
Severity	7.5 High CVSS 3.1 3 scores
Fixed in	`3.16.1`, `3.18.2`, `3.19.2`
Weakness	CWE-696
Published	10 Jan 2022
Updated	17 Jun 2026

Description

An issue in protobuf-java allowed the interleaving of com.google.protobuf.UnknownFieldSet fields in such a way that would be processed out of order. A small malicious payload can occupy the parser for several minutes by creating large numbers of short-lived objects that cause frequent, repeated pauses. We recommend upgrading libraries beyond the vulnerable versions.

Exploitation status

Proof of concept only

A proof of concept exists, but no reviewed exploit catalogue lists this CVE.

CISA KEV not listed
VulnCheck KEV not listed
CISA Vulnrichment exploitation: poc CISA recorded that an exploit has been demonstrated. Automatable: yes, technical impact: partial.
Indexed PoC 1 indexed, none at 5+ stars
EPSS 1.8% chance in 30 days

1 of these are GitHub repositories with fewer than 5 stars. They are listed for reference and don't count toward the exploitation status above.

Index	Artifact	Stars	First seen
GitHub PoC	A potential Denial of Service issue in protobuf-java high severity GitHub Reviewed Published 5 days ago in protocolbuffers/protobuf • Updated yesterday Vulnerability details Dependabot alerts 2 Package com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (maven) Affected versions < 3.16.1 >= 3.18.0, < 3.18.2 >= 3.19.0, < 3.19.2 Patched versions 3.16.1 3.18.2 3.19.2 Package com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin (maven) Affected versions >= 3.18.0, < 3.18.2 >= 3.19.0, < 3.19.2 Patched versions 3.18.2 3.19.2 Package google-protobuf (RubyGems) Affected versions < 3.19.2 Patched versions 3.19.2 Description Summary A potential Denial of Service issue in protobuf-java was discovered in the parsing procedure for binary data. Reporter: OSS-Fuzz Affected versions: All versions of Java Protobufs (including Kotlin and JRuby) prior to the versions listed below. Protobuf "javalite" users (typically Android) are not affected. Severity CVE-2021-22569 High - CVSS Score: 7.5, An implementation weakness in how unknown fields are parsed in Java. A small (~800 KB) malicious payload can occupy the parser for several minutes by creating large numbers of short-lived objects that cause frequent, repeated GC pauses. Proof of Concept For reproduction details, please refer to the oss-fuzz issue that identifies the specific inputs that exercise this parsing weakness. Remediation and Mitigation Please update to the latest available versions of the following packages: protobuf-java (3.16.1, 3.18.2, 3.19.2) protobuf-kotlin (3.18.2, 3.19.2) google-protobuf [JRuby gem only] (3.19.2) References GHSA-wrvw-hg22-4m67 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22569 https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=39330 https://cloud.google.com/support/bulletins#gcp-2022-001		2022-01-13

Index

Artifact

Stars

First seen

GitHub PoC

A potential Denial of Service issue in protobuf-java high severity GitHub Reviewed Published 5 days ago in protocolbuffers/protobuf • Updated yesterday Vulnerability details Dependabot alerts 2 Package com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java (maven) Affected versions < 3.16.1 >= 3.18.0, < 3.18.2 >= 3.19.0, < 3.19.2 Patched versions 3.16.1 3.18.2 3.19.2 Package com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin (maven) Affected versions >= 3.18.0, < 3.18.2 >= 3.19.0, < 3.19.2 Patched versions 3.18.2 3.19.2 Package google-protobuf (RubyGems) Affected versions < 3.19.2 Patched versions 3.19.2 Description Summary A potential Denial of Service issue in protobuf-java was discovered in the parsing procedure for binary data. Reporter: OSS-Fuzz Affected versions: All versions of Java Protobufs (including Kotlin and JRuby) prior to the versions listed below. Protobuf "javalite" users (typically Android) are not affected. Severity CVE-2021-22569 High - CVSS Score: 7.5, An implementation weakness in how unknown fields are parsed in Java. A small (~800 KB) malicious payload can occupy the parser for several minutes by creating large numbers of short-lived objects that cause frequent, repeated GC pauses. Proof of Concept For reproduction details, please refer to the oss-fuzz issue that identifies the specific inputs that exercise this parsing weakness. Remediation and Mitigation Please update to the latest available versions of the following packages: protobuf-java (3.16.1, 3.18.2, 3.19.2) protobuf-kotlin (3.18.2, 3.19.2) google-protobuf [JRuby gem only] (3.19.2) References GHSA-wrvw-hg22-4m67 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22569 https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=39330 https://cloud.google.com/support/bulletins#gcp-2022-001

2022-01-13

Waratek protection

No exploit published

Within Waratek scope. In the sources we check, nobody has published exploit code for this CVE or reported it being exploited.

A public code fix exists.

Protection none
Action unverified
Review automated Upstream data
Record active

Decided by	Exploit code for this candidate, published in a reviewed catalogue or a GitHub repository with 5 or more stars, or in use per CISA or VulnCheck; not only a CISA verdict, a forecast, or nothing at all
Finding	This CVE is not listed in CISA KEV or VulnCheck KEV, CISA Vulnrichment records no active exploitation, no reviewed exploit catalogue carries an entry for it, and no GitHub PoC repository for it has 5 or more stars. Nobody has published exploit code worth tracing, so it is not a candidate for a rule ahead of the ones where somebody has; an upstream fix path does exist, so the remediation half of the candidacy still holds. This is a statement about what has been published, not about whether the defect is reachable or serious.

Decided by

Exploit code for this candidate, published in a reviewed catalogue or a GitHub repository with 5 or more stars, or in use per CISA or VulnCheck; not only a CISA verdict, a forecast, or nothing at all

Finding

This CVE is not listed in CISA KEV or VulnCheck KEV, CISA Vulnrichment records no active exploitation, no reviewed exploit catalogue carries an entry for it, and no GitHub PoC repository for it has 5 or more stars. Nobody has published exploit code worth tracing, so it is not a candidate for a rule ahead of the ones where somebody has; an upstream fix path does exist, so the remediation half of the candidacy still holds. This is a statement about what has been published, not about whether the defect is reachable or serious.

CVSS

7.5 HIGH v3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H 3 metrics

We show the highest score from the newest CVSS version. Scores from different versions can't be compared, and the first score listed is sometimes a 0.0 placeholder.

Version Score Band Vector Assigner Type

CVSS 3.1 7.5 HIGH CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H cve-coordination@google.com Secondary published

CVSS 3.1 5.5 MEDIUM CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H NVD Primary

CVSS 2.0 4.3 none AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P NVD Primary

Version	Score	Band	Vector	Assigner	Type
CVSS 3.1	7.5	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`	cve-coordination@google.com	Secondary	published
CVSS 3.1	5.5	MEDIUM	`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`	NVD	Primary
CVSS 2.0	4.3	none	`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P`	NVD	Primary

Affected software and releases

Oracle advisories

Advisory	Type	Quarter	Products Oracle names in its risk matrix
Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2023 ↗	CPU	2023-Q3	Oracle Communications Applications / Security (Google Protobuf-Java) (7.4.0-7.4.2, 7.5.0)
Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2023 ↗	CPU	2023-Q2	Oracle Fusion Middleware / Third Party (Google Protobuf-Java) (12.2.1.4.0, 14.1.1.0.0)
Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2022 ↗	CPU	2022-Q2	Oracle Communications / CNC Console (protobuf-java) (1.9.0) Oracle Communications / OCNRF (protobuf-java) (1.15.0, 1.15.1) Oracle Communications / Policy (protobuf-java) (1.15.0) Oracle Database Server / Oracle Spatial and Graph MapViewer (protobuf-java) (19c, 21c)

Advisory

Type

Quarter

Products Oracle names in its risk matrix

Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2023 ↗

CPU

2023-Q3

Oracle Communications Applications / Security (Google Protobuf-Java) (7.4.0-7.4.2, 7.5.0)

Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2023 ↗

CPU

2023-Q2

Oracle Fusion Middleware / Third Party (Google Protobuf-Java) (12.2.1.4.0, 14.1.1.0.0)

Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2022 ↗

CPU

2022-Q2

Oracle Communications / CNC Console (protobuf-java) (1.9.0)
Oracle Communications / OCNRF (protobuf-java) (1.15.0, 1.15.1)
Oracle Communications / Policy (protobuf-java) (1.15.0)
Oracle Database Server / Oracle Spatial and Graph MapViewer (protobuf-java) (19c, 21c)

Oracle components and versions

Family	Component	Versions, as Oracle lists them	Read as
Oracle Communications	CNC Console (protobuf-java)	1.9.0	1.9.0
Oracle Communications	OCNRF (protobuf-java)	1.15.0, 1.15.1	1.15.0 · 1.15.1
Oracle Communications	Policy (protobuf-java)	1.15.0	1.15.0
Oracle Communications Applications	Security (Google Protobuf-Java)	7.4.0-7.4.2, 7.5.0	7.5.0
Oracle Database Server	Oracle Spatial and Graph MapViewer (protobuf-java)	19c, 21c	19 · 21
Oracle Fusion Middleware	Third Party (Google Protobuf-Java)	12.2.1.4.0, 14.1.1.0.0	12.2.1.4.0 · 14.1.1.0.0

Family

Component

Versions, as Oracle lists them

Read as

Oracle Communications

CNC Console (protobuf-java)

1.9.0

Oracle Communications

OCNRF (protobuf-java)

1.15.0, 1.15.1

1.15.0 · 1.15.1

Oracle Communications

Policy (protobuf-java)

1.15.0

Oracle Communications Applications

Security (Google Protobuf-Java)

7.4.0-7.4.2, 7.5.0

7.5.0

Oracle Database Server

Oracle Spatial and Graph MapViewer (protobuf-java)

19c, 21c

19 · 21

Oracle Fusion Middleware

Third Party (Google Protobuf-Java)

12.2.1.4.0, 14.1.1.0.0

12.2.1.4.0 · 14.1.1.0.0

Maven packages

Affected and fixed versions, from OSV.dev

Package Introduced Fixed Last affected

com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java 0 3.16.1 unbounded

com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java 3.18.0 3.18.2 unbounded

com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java 3.19.0 3.19.2 unbounded

com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin 3.18.0 3.18.2 unbounded

com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin 3.19.0 3.19.2 unbounded

Package	Introduced	Fixed	Last affected
`com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java`	0	`3.16.1`	unbounded
`com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java`	3.18.0	`3.18.2`	unbounded
`com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java`	3.19.0	`3.19.2`	unbounded
`com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin`	3.18.0	`3.18.2`	unbounded
`com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin`	3.19.0	`3.19.2`	unbounded

Products and versions

9 products, 17 version entries

Source	Vendor	Product	Scheme	Affected versions
osv	com.google.protobuf	protobuf-java	generic	＜ 3.16.1 · ≥ 3.18.0 and ＜ 3.18.2 · ≥ 3.19.0 and ＜ 3.19.2
osv	com.google.protobuf	protobuf-kotlin	generic	≥ 3.18.0 and ＜ 3.18.2 · ≥ 3.19.0 and ＜ 3.19.2
nvd	google	google-protobuf	generic	＜ 3.19.2
nvd	google	protobuf-java	generic	＜ 3.16.1 · ≥ 3.18.0 and ＜ 3.18.2 · ≥ 3.19.0 and ＜ 3.19.2
nvd	google	protobuf-kotlin	generic	＜ 3.18.2 · ≥ 3.19.0 and ＜ 3.19.2
nvd	oracle	communications cloud native core console	generic	1.9.0
nvd	oracle	communications cloud native core network repository function	generic	1.15.0 · 1.15.1
nvd	oracle	communications cloud native core policy	generic	1.15.0
nvd	oracle	spatial and graph mapviewer	generic	19c · 21c

Source

Vendor

Product

Scheme

Affected versions

osv

com.google.protobuf

protobuf-java

generic

＜ 3.16.1 · ≥ 3.18.0 and ＜ 3.18.2 · ≥ 3.19.0 and ＜ 3.19.2

osv

com.google.protobuf

protobuf-kotlin

generic

≥ 3.18.0 and ＜ 3.18.2 · ≥ 3.19.0 and ＜ 3.19.2

nvd

google

google-protobuf

generic

＜ 3.19.2

nvd

google

protobuf-java

generic

＜ 3.16.1 · ≥ 3.18.0 and ＜ 3.18.2 · ≥ 3.19.0 and ＜ 3.19.2

nvd

google

protobuf-kotlin

generic

＜ 3.18.2 · ≥ 3.19.0 and ＜ 3.19.2

nvd

oracle

communications cloud native core console

generic

1.9.0

nvd

oracle

communications cloud native core network repository function

generic

1.15.0 · 1.15.1

nvd

oracle

communications cloud native core policy

generic

1.15.0

nvd

oracle

spatial and graph mapviewer

generic

19c · 21c

References

URL	Tags
https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/security/advisories/GHSA-wrvw-hg22-4m67	WEB
https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=39330	WEB
https://cloud.google.com/support/bulletins#gcp-2022-001	WEB
https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf	PACKAGE
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html	WEB
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/12/4	WEB
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/12/7	WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/04/msg00019.html

URL

Timeline

Published	2022-01-10	By the CVE Program.
NVD record modified	2026-06-17	NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

Published

2022-01-10

By the CVE Program.

NVD record modified

2026-06-17

NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

How VRT decided (17 of 24 rules ran)

17 of 24 rules ran. The rest didn't run because an earlier rule had already settled the CVE.

# Rule Outcome Status Detail

identity: Does this identifier describe a vulnerability at all? the first rule that matches decides

1 rejected no match CVE Program withdrawal of this identifier

scope: Is it a vulnerability Waratek protects? the first rule that matches decides

2 armr-patch-file no match An ARMR patch file on disk for this CVE

3 armr-secure-rule-file no match An ARMR security-rule template on disk for this CVE

4 manual-classification no match A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE

5 manual classification no match Manual classification of this CVE in the legacy dataset

6 non-java-upstream no match A root cause in non-Java code: an OS kernel, a C library, or a bundled runtime

7 oracle-component no match The defect being in a component of a tracked product the agent does not reach: JavaFX, the Java SE installer, the JInitiator browser plug-in, the native WebLogic proxy plug-in, or a native part of Oracle Application Server or Collaboration Suite (HTTP Server, Web Cache, Internet Directory, mail and calendar servers). Oracle gives these no CPE of their own and names them only in the description.

8 java-client-side no match Oracle's own risk-matrix note saying the CVE is reached only through untrusted code in the Java sandbox (applets, Web Start) or only through a client installation of Java, so a server running its own trusted code is not exposed

9 osv-maven matched In scope Maven packages: com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java, com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin

10 cna-maven-package not reached An affected Maven artifact named by the CNA itself

11 known-cpe-product not reached An NVD CPE naming a product ARMR tracks

12 cna-cpe-product not reached A CPE the CNA published naming a tracked product. Oracle publishes these on advisory day, months before NVD.

13 oracle-advisory-family not reached A tracked product family named in Oracle's own risk matrix. CPE cannot carry a suite name, only a module.

14 cna-named-product not reached A tracked product named in words by the CVE's own CNA, on a record with no CPE yet. Apache and Eclipse publish these on advisory day, before NVD adds CPE data.

15 non-deployable-product not reached The only affected product being a sealed appliance image, where Java runs but no -javaagent can be attached

16 unmatched-product not reached No tracked product matched above, and none present at all

disposition: What do we do about one that is? every rule runs

17 patch-hint no match A reference pointing at the upstream fix: a commit, a PR, a Red Hat bug

18 open-source-maven matched Mitigation candidate Open-source Maven artifact indexed by OSV (Maven packages: com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java, com.google.protobuf:protobuf-kotlin). The source is public, which makes an ARMR patch rule a candidate; nothing here establishes that one can be written.

19 poc-derivable skipped An indexed exploit clearing the evidence bar to reverse-engineer, where there is no source to read

20 no-exploit skipped Nothing to build a rule from yet: no published exploit, no CISA record of exploitation and no source-level change to read

21 secure-rule-match no match A vulnerability class already blocked by an ARMR security rule

22 exploited-no-fix-or-poc skipped Somebody exploiting this CVE (a CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, or a CISA verdict of active exploitation), with no fix, source code or PoC to build a rule from

23 below-action-threshold no match Severity is HIGH — only MEDIUM/LOW are deprioritized

24 no-exploit-published decided it matched No exploit published No exploit code has been published, and an upstream fix path does exist, so the remediation half of the candidacy still holds.

Products the scope rules checked

The products this CVE's record names, and whether VRT tracks each one. The scope rules decided on these.

Vendor Product Tracked CPE Source

google google-protobuf not tracked cpe:2.3:a:google:google-protobuf:*:*:*:*:*:ruby:*:*

google protobuf-java tracked cpe:2.3:a:google:protobuf-java:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

google protobuf-kotlin not tracked cpe:2.3:a:google:protobuf-kotlin:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

oracle communications_cloud_native_core_console tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_cloud_native_core_console:1.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle communications_cloud_native_core_network_repository_function tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_cloud_native_core_network_repository_function:1.15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle communications_cloud_native_core_policy tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_cloud_native_core_policy:1.15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle spatial_and_graph_mapviewer not tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:spatial_and_graph_mapviewer:19c:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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