ghsa-j2pc-v64r-mv4f
Vulnerability from github
Summary
The expected protocDigest is ignored when protoc is taken from the PATH.
Details
The documentation for the protocDigest parameter says:
... Users may wish to specify this if using a
PATH-based binary ...
However, when specifying <protoc>PATH</protoc> the protocDigest is not actually checked because the code returns here already
https://github.com/ascopes/protobuf-maven-plugin/blob/59097aae8062c461129a13dcda2f4116b90a8765/protobuf-maven-plugin/src/main/java/io/github/ascopes/protobufmavenplugin/protoc/ProtocResolver.java#L91-L93
before the digest check: https://github.com/ascopes/protobuf-maven-plugin/blob/59097aae8062c461129a13dcda2f4116b90a8765/protobuf-maven-plugin/src/main/java/io/github/ascopes/protobufmavenplugin/protoc/ProtocResolver.java#L106
PoC
Specify:
xml
<protoc>PATH</protoc>
<protocDigest>sha256:0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000</protocDigest>
And notice how the protoc on the PATH is not rejected, despite a digest mismatch.
Impact
Users who have an untrusted protoc executable on their PATH and rely <protocDigest> as protection are affected.
{
"affected": [
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 4.0.1"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Maven",
"name": "io.github.ascopes:protobuf-maven-plugin"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "4.0.0"
},
{
"fixed": "4.0.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Maven",
"name": "io.github.ascopes:protobuf-maven-plugin"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "3.10.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-354",
"CWE-693"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2025-11-04T15:48:09Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "### Summary\nThe expected `protocDigest` is ignored when protoc is taken from the `PATH`.\n\n### Details\nThe documentation for the `protocDigest` parameter says:\n\u003e ... Users may wish to specify this if using a `PATH`-based binary ...\n\nHowever, when specifying `\u003cprotoc\u003ePATH\u003c/protoc\u003e` the `protocDigest` is not actually checked because the code returns here already\nhttps://github.com/ascopes/protobuf-maven-plugin/blob/59097aae8062c461129a13dcda2f4116b90a8765/protobuf-maven-plugin/src/main/java/io/github/ascopes/protobufmavenplugin/protoc/ProtocResolver.java#L91-L93\n\nbefore the digest check:\nhttps://github.com/ascopes/protobuf-maven-plugin/blob/59097aae8062c461129a13dcda2f4116b90a8765/protobuf-maven-plugin/src/main/java/io/github/ascopes/protobufmavenplugin/protoc/ProtocResolver.java#L106\n\n### PoC\nSpecify:\n```xml\n\u003cprotoc\u003ePATH\u003c/protoc\u003e\n\u003cprotocDigest\u003esha256:0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000\u003c/protocDigest\u003e\n```\n\nAnd notice how the `protoc` on the `PATH` is not rejected, despite a digest mismatch.\n\n### Impact\nUsers who have an untrusted `protoc` executable on their `PATH` and rely `\u003cprotocDigest\u003e` as protection are affected.",
"id": "GHSA-j2pc-v64r-mv4f",
"modified": "2025-11-04T15:48:09Z",
"published": "2025-11-04T15:48:09Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ascopes/protobuf-maven-plugin/security/advisories/GHSA-j2pc-v64r-mv4f"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ascopes/protobuf-maven-plugin/commit/d3330e7038a296fe595c5470a22019eb70e35b07"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/ascopes/protobuf-maven-plugin"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:L/SA:N",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "Protobuf Maven Plugin protocDigest is ignored when using protoc from PATH"
}
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or seen somewhere by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability is confirmed from an analyst perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: This vulnerability was exploited and seen by the user reporting the sighting.
- Patched: This vulnerability was successfully patched by the user reporting the sighting.
- Not exploited: This vulnerability was not exploited or seen by the user reporting the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expresses doubt about the veracity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: This vulnerability was not successfully patched by the user reporting the sighting.