Infinite loop in JSON unmarshaling in google.golang.org/protobuf (CVE-2024-24786) | HOL Guard CVE

High · CVSS 7.5CVE-2024-24786

Infinite loop in JSON unmarshaling in google.golang.org/protobuf

Answer in brief

CVE-2024-24786 records a High severity (CVSS 7.5) vulnerability in Infinite loop in JSON unmarshaling in google.golang.org/protobuf. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/encoding/protojson (generic), google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/internal/encoding/json (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Mar 5, 2024Updated Sep 23, 2026Source checked Sep 23, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 23, 2026Material review Sep 23, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: High · CVSS 7.5
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 2 mapped packages or products
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 7.5. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/encoding/protojson (generic), google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/internal/encoding/json (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/encoding/protojsongeneric	>=0 <1.33.0	1.33.0
google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/internal/encoding/jsongeneric	>=0 <1.33.0	1.33.0

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/encoding/protojson, google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/internal/encoding/json.
Review the reported fix. Update google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/encoding/protojson to 1.33.0; google.golang.org/protobuf/google.golang.org/protobuf/internal/encoding/json to 1.33.0 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Mar 5, 2024
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 23, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 23, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

The protojson.Unmarshal function can enter an infinite loop when unmarshaling certain forms of invalid JSON. This condition can occur when unmarshaling into a message which contains a google.protobuf.Any value, or when the UnmarshalOptions.DiscardUnknown option is set.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.