CVE catalog

CVE-2022-3509

protobuf: CVE-2022-3509

Severity: Medium · CVSS 5.3CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Published: Nov 28, 2022, 11:00:00 PM UTC
Source: [NVD] · [CVE record]
EPSS: 0.90% · Oct 25, 2026

A parsing issue similar to CVE-2022-3171, but with textformat 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.

Vulnerable and fixed packages

Distribution-reported package versions and fixes. These do not depend on matching against the OpenFactory package catalog.

Distribution	Package	Release	Version	Status
Debian	protobuf	sid	`3.21.12-17`	fixed
Debian	protobuf	forky	`3.21.12-17`	fixed
Debian	protobuf	trixie	`3.21.12-11+deb13u1`	fixed
Debian	protobuf	bookworm	`3.21.12-3+deb12u1`	fixed
Ubuntu	protobuf	pro	`2.6.1-1.2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	protobuf	pro	`2.6.1-1.3`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	protobuf	pro	`2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	protobuf	pro	`2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm2`	vulnerable
Ubuntu	protobuf	pro	`2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm4`	vulnerable

Fixed-version evidence

Distribution	Package	Type	Release	Fixed version	Urgency	Origin	Bugs
Debian	protobuf	source	sid	`3.21.9-3`	not yet assigned	Not reported	Not reported
Debian	protobuf	source	forky	`3.21.9-3`	not yet assigned	Not reported	Not reported
Debian	protobuf	source	trixie	`3.21.9-3`	not yet assigned	Not reported	Not reported
Debian	protobuf	source	bookworm	`3.21.9-3`	not yet assigned	Not reported	Not reported

OpenFactory catalog packages

[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]

[elpa-protobuf-mode]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[libprotobuf32]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · amd64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · arm64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[libprotobuf-dev]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · amd64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · arm64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[libprotobuf-java]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[libprotobuf-lite32]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · amd64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · arm64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[libprotoc32]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · amd64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · arm64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[libprotoc-dev]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · amd64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · arm64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[php-google-protobuf]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · all · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[protobuf-compiler]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · amd64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · arm64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[python3-protobuf]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · amd64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · arm64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
[ruby-google-protobuf]Fixed
Source package: [protobuf]
Details (2)
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · amd64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm
- 3.21.12-3+deb12u1 · arm64 · bookworm
  Fixed · Fixed: 3.21.9-3
  dsa · protobuf · debian · bookworm

Observed: Oct 23, 2026, 6:28:06 PM UTC

References

[CERT-Bund public advisories] · [Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [OSV Package Vulnerability Database] · [Red Hat security advisories and VEX]