CVE-2022-3510 in Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
A parsing issue similar to CVE-2022-3171, but with Message-Type Extensions 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-3510 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting the protobuf-java library across its core and lite implementations. This issue manifests when processing protocol buffer messages containing multiple instances of non-repeated embedded messages that themselves contain repeated or unknown fields. The flaw stems from improper handling of object state transitions between mutable and immutable forms during the parsing process, creating a scenario where the garbage collector experiences prolonged pause times due to excessive object churn. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 3.21.7, 3.20.3, 3.19.6, and 3.16.3, making it particularly concerning for systems that rely heavily on protobuf serialization for inter-service communication or data processing pipelines.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses unchecked resource consumption in software systems. When protobuf-java encounters malformed input containing multiple embedded messages with repeated or unknown fields, the parser enters into a recursive conversion cycle between mutable and immutable object states. This conversion process creates a cascade of object allocations and deallocations that significantly increases memory pressure and triggers extended garbage collection cycles. The issue is exacerbated by the fact that these conversions occur repeatedly during message parsing, leading to exponential growth in processing time and resource consumption. The problem is particularly insidious because it can be triggered by seemingly innocuous input data that contains embedded structures with repeated field definitions, making it difficult to detect during normal testing procedures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems that depend on protobuf-java for handling large volumes of serialized data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input messages that trigger the problematic parsing path, resulting in extended service unavailability or complete denial of service conditions. The impact extends beyond simple resource exhaustion to potentially affect system availability in production environments where protobuf is used extensively for API communication, database serialization, or message queue processing. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication or specialized privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where untrusted input is processed through protobuf parsers. Organizations using affected versions may experience cascading failures across their service mesh if multiple components rely on the same vulnerable library, potentially leading to widespread system outages.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3510 primarily involve immediate upgrading to the patched versions of protobuf-java as recommended by the vendor. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected components in their infrastructure, particularly those handling external input or inter-service communication. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures can provide defense-in-depth protection against malformed protobuf messages. Organizations should consider deploying monitoring solutions that can detect unusual garbage collection patterns or extended processing times that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 - Endpoint Denial of Service, as it specifically targets resource exhaustion at the application level. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and rate limiting controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular vulnerability scanning to identify other potentially affected components in their software supply chain.