ubuntu-cve-2021-22569
Vulnerability from osv_ubuntu
Published
2022-01-10 14:10
Modified
2026-04-22 07:39
Summary
Details

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.

Severity
5.5 (Medium)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
N/A (UNKNOWN)
low
References
To clipboard 

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "ecosystem_specific": {
        "availability": "Available with Ubuntu Pro (Infra-only): https://ubuntu.com/pro",
        "binaries": [
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-java",
            "binary_version": "2.5.0-9ubuntu1+esm1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-lite8",
            "binary_version": "2.5.0-9ubuntu1+esm1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf8",
            "binary_version": "2.5.0-9ubuntu1+esm1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotoc8",
            "binary_version": "2.5.0-9ubuntu1+esm1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "protobuf-compiler",
            "binary_version": "2.5.0-9ubuntu1+esm1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "python-protobuf",
            "binary_version": "2.5.0-9ubuntu1+esm1"
          }
        ]
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS",
        "name": "protobuf",
        "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/protobuf@2.5.0-9ubuntu1+esm1?arch=source\u0026distro=trusty/esm"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "2.5.0-9ubuntu1+esm1"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ],
      "versions": [
        "2.4.1-3ubuntu2",
        "2.4.1-3ubuntu3",
        "2.4.1-3ubuntu4",
        "2.5.0-5ubuntu2",
        "2.5.0-7ubuntu1",
        "2.5.0-8ubuntu1",
        "2.5.0-9ubuntu1"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ecosystem_specific": {
        "binaries": [
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-java",
            "binary_version": "2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm4"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-lite9v5",
            "binary_version": "2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm4"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf9v5",
            "binary_version": "2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm4"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotoc9v5",
            "binary_version": "2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm4"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "protobuf-compiler",
            "binary_version": "2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm4"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "python-protobuf",
            "binary_version": "2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm4"
          }
        ]
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS",
        "name": "protobuf",
        "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/protobuf@2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm4?arch=source\u0026distro=esm-infra/xenial"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ],
      "versions": [
        "2.6.1-1.2",
        "2.6.1-1.3",
        "2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1",
        "2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm2",
        "2.6.1-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm4"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ecosystem_specific": {
        "availability": "No subscription required",
        "binaries": [
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-java",
            "binary_version": "3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-lite10",
            "binary_version": "3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf10",
            "binary_version": "3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotoc10",
            "binary_version": "3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "protobuf-compiler",
            "binary_version": "3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "python-protobuf",
            "binary_version": "3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "python3-protobuf",
            "binary_version": "3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1.1"
          }
        ]
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:18.04:LTS",
        "name": "protobuf",
        "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/protobuf@3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1.1?arch=source\u0026distro=bionic"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1.1"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ],
      "versions": [
        "3.0.0-9ubuntu5",
        "3.0.0-9ubuntu6",
        "3.0.0-9.1ubuntu1"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ecosystem_specific": {
        "availability": "No subscription required",
        "binaries": [
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-java",
            "binary_version": "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-lite17",
            "binary_version": "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf17",
            "binary_version": "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotoc17",
            "binary_version": "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "protobuf-compiler",
            "binary_version": "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "python-protobuf",
            "binary_version": "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "python3-protobuf",
            "binary_version": "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "ruby-google-protobuf",
            "binary_version": "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2"
          }
        ]
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:20.04:LTS",
        "name": "protobuf",
        "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/protobuf@3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2?arch=source\u0026distro=focal"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5.2"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ],
      "versions": [
        "3.6.1.3-2",
        "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu1",
        "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu3",
        "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu4",
        "3.6.1.3-2ubuntu5"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ecosystem_specific": {
        "availability": "No subscription required",
        "binaries": [
          {
            "binary_name": "elpa-protobuf-mode",
            "binary_version": "3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-java",
            "binary_version": "3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf-lite23",
            "binary_version": "3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotobuf23",
            "binary_version": "3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "libprotoc23",
            "binary_version": "3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "protobuf-compiler",
            "binary_version": "3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "python3-protobuf",
            "binary_version": "3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1"
          },
          {
            "binary_name": "ruby-google-protobuf",
            "binary_version": "3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1"
          }
        ]
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:22.04:LTS",
        "name": "protobuf",
        "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/protobuf@3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1?arch=source\u0026distro=jammy"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "3.12.4-1ubuntu7.22.04.1"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ],
      "versions": [
        "3.12.4-1ubuntu3",
        "3.12.4-1ubuntu5",
        "3.12.4-1ubuntu6",
        "3.12.4-1ubuntu7"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [],
  "details": "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.",
  "id": "UBUNTU-CVE-2021-22569",
  "modified": "2026-04-22T07:39:55Z",
  "published": "2022-01-10T14:10:00Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "REPORT",
      "url": "https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2021-22569"
    },
    {
      "type": "REPORT",
      "url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/12/4"
    },
    {
      "type": "REPORT",
      "url": "https://cloud.google.com/support/bulletins#gcp-2022-001"
    },
    {
      "type": "REPORT",
      "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/12/4"
    },
    {
      "type": "REPORT",
      "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/01/12/7"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-5945-1"
    },
    {
      "type": "REPORT",
      "url": "https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-22569"
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "USN-5945-1"
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.7.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "low",
      "type": "Ubuntu"
    }
  ],
  "upstream": [
    "CVE-2021-22569"
  ]
}



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Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.