CVE-2026-0994

Denial of Service in Python Protobuf

Published Jan 23, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.2 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability exists in google.protobuf.json_format.ParseDict() in Python, where the max_recursion_depth limit can be bypassed when parsing nested google.protobuf.Any messages.

Due to missing recursion depth accounting inside the internal Any-handling logic, an attacker can supply deeply nested Any structures that bypass the intended recursion limit, eventually exhausting Python’s recursion stack and causing a RecursionError.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-7gcm-g887-7qv7 protobuf affected by a JSON recursion depth bypass
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8063-1 Protocol Buffers vulnerability
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8063-2 Protocol Buffers vulnerability
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:google:protobuf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Google
Google protobuf
Google protobuf-python
Protobuf
Protobuf protobuf
Vendors & Products Google
Google protobuf
Google protobuf-python
Protobuf
Protobuf protobuf
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability exists in google.protobuf.json_format.ParseDict() in Python, where the max_recursion_depth limit can be bypassed when parsing nested google.protobuf.Any messages. Due to missing recursion depth accounting inside the internal Any-handling logic, an attacker can supply deeply nested Any structures that bypass the intended recursion limit, eventually exhausting Python’s recursion stack and causing a RecursionError.
Title Denial of Service in Python Protobuf
Weaknesses CWE-674
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:L'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Google
Published
Updated
Sep 1, 2026, 12:04 PM
Reserved
Jan 15, 2026, 3:16 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Jan 23, 2026, 3:16 PM
Modified
Sep 1, 2026, 1:18 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Jan 23, 2026, 2:55 PM