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Vulnerability record · CVE-2021-22570 · published 26 January 2022

CVE-2021-22570: Google protobuf null pointer dereference vulnerability

Google · Protobuf

Nullptr dereference when a null char is present in a proto symbol. The symbol is parsed incorrectly, leading to an unchecked call into the proto file's name during generation of the resulting error message. Since the symbol is incorrectly parsed, the file is nullptr. We recommend upgrading to version 3.15.0 or greater.

5.5 CVSS 3.1 Medium EPSS 2.7% · top 14.9% CWE-476 · NULL pointer dereference
5.5CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 2.1
2.7%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
8Affected product versions listed by NVD
22References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

Nullptr dereference when a null char is present in a proto symbol. The symbol is parsed incorrectly, leading to an unchecked call into the proto file's name during generation of the resulting error message. Since the symbol is incorrectly parsed, the file is nullptr. We recommend upgrading to version 3.15.0 or greater.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected products

8 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v3.15.0 Release NotesThird Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/04/msg00019.html
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/3DVUZPALAQ34TQP6KFNLM4I
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5PAGL5M2KGYPN3VEQCRJJE6
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BTRGBRC5KGCA4SK5MUNLPYJ
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IFX6KPNOFHYD6L4XES5PCM3
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/KQJB6ZPRLKV6WCMX2PRRRQB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MRWRAXAFR3JR7XCFWTHC2KA
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NVTWVQRB5OCCTMKEQFY5MYE
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220429-0005/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/tag/v3.15.0 Release NotesThird Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/04/msg00019.html
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/3DVUZPALAQ34TQP6KFNLM4I
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5PAGL5M2KGYPN3VEQCRJJE6
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/BTRGBRC5KGCA4SK5MUNLPYJ
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IFX6KPNOFHYD6L4XES5PCM3
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/KQJB6ZPRLKV6WCMX2PRRRQB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MRWRAXAFR3JR7XCFWTHC2KA
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NVTWVQRB5OCCTMKEQFY5MYE
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220429-0005/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html Third Party Advisory

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2021-22570), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.