CVE-2026-44289: CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion in protobufjs protobuf.js
protobufjs compiles protobuf definitions into JavaScript (JS) functions. Prior to 7.5.6 and 8.0.2, protobufjs could recurse without a depth limit while decoding nested protobuf data. This affected both skipping unknown group fields and generated decoding of nested message fields. A crafted protobuf binary payload could cause the JavaScript call stack to be exhausted during decoding. This vulnerability is fixed in 7.5.6 and 8.0.2.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The protobufjs library, used to compile protobuf definitions into JavaScript functions, had a vulnerability (CVE-2026-44289) where decoding nested protobuf data could recurse without a depth limit. This uncontrolled recursion affects both skipping unknown group fields and generated decoding of nested message fields, potentially exhausting the JavaScript call stack and causing a denial of service. The vulnerability affects protobuf.js versions prior to 7.5.6 and 8.0.2 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 (high severity). The issue is fixed in versions 7.5.6 and 8.0.2. The Red Hat advisory confirms the vulnerability and references fixes in updated packages.
Potential Impact
An attacker can craft a protobuf binary payload that triggers uncontrolled recursion during decoding, exhausting the JavaScript call stack and causing a denial of service (application crash or hang). There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity reported. The primary impact is availability degradation due to denial of service.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in protobuf.js versions 7.5.6 and 8.0.2. Users should upgrade to at least version 7.5.6 or 8.0.2 to remediate this vulnerability. The Red Hat advisory confirms the availability of updated packages addressing this issue. No additional mitigations are specified or required beyond applying the official fix.
CVE-2026-44289: CWE-674: Uncontrolled Recursion in protobufjs protobuf.js
Description
protobufjs compiles protobuf definitions into JavaScript (JS) functions. Prior to 7.5.6 and 8.0.2, protobufjs could recurse without a depth limit while decoding nested protobuf data. This affected both skipping unknown group fields and generated decoding of nested message fields. A crafted protobuf binary payload could cause the JavaScript call stack to be exhausted during decoding. This vulnerability is fixed in 7.5.6 and 8.0.2.
CVSS v3.1
Score 7.5high
Affected software
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The protobufjs library, used to compile protobuf definitions into JavaScript functions, had a vulnerability (CVE-2026-44289) where decoding nested protobuf data could recurse without a depth limit. This uncontrolled recursion affects both skipping unknown group fields and generated decoding of nested message fields, potentially exhausting the JavaScript call stack and causing a denial of service. The vulnerability affects protobuf.js versions prior to 7.5.6 and 8.0.2 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 (high severity). The issue is fixed in versions 7.5.6 and 8.0.2. The Red Hat advisory confirms the vulnerability and references fixes in updated packages.
Potential Impact
An attacker can craft a protobuf binary payload that triggers uncontrolled recursion during decoding, exhausting the JavaScript call stack and causing a denial of service (application crash or hang). There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity reported. The primary impact is availability degradation due to denial of service.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in protobuf.js versions 7.5.6 and 8.0.2. Users should upgrade to at least version 7.5.6 or 8.0.2 to remediate this vulnerability. The Red Hat advisory confirms the availability of updated packages addressing this issue. No additional mitigations are specified or required beyond applying the official fix.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-05-05T17:39:31.112Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-44289","vendor":"Red Hat"}]
Threat ID: 6a049717cbff5d8610e00327
Added to database: 05/13/2026, 15:21:59 UTC
Last enriched: 07/30/2026, 01:41:08 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 19:30:23 UTC
Views: 86
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