High

Bzip2Decoder doesn't allow setting size restrictions for decompressed data

  • Disclosed: 09.09.2021
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 12:22

Impact

The Bzip2 decompression decoder function doesn't allow setting size restrictions on the decompressed output data (which affects the allocation size used during decompression).

All users of Bzip2Decoder are affected. The malicious input can trigger an OOME and so a DoS attack

Workarounds

No workarounds other than not using the Bzip2Decoder

References

Relevant code areas:

https://github.com/netty/netty/blob/netty-4.1.67.Final/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/Bzip2Decoder.java#L80 https://github.com/netty/netty/blob/netty-4.1.67.Final/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/Bzip2Decoder.java#L294 https://github.com/netty/netty/blob/netty-4.1.67.Final/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/Bzip2Decoder.java#L305

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
Java / Kotlin (Maven) io.netty:netty all versions no fix
Java / Kotlin (Maven) io.netty:netty-codec < 4.1.68.Final 4.1.68.Final
Java / Kotlin (Maven) org.jboss.netty:netty all versions no fix

References

CVSS score 7.5/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-400
Platform
Java / Kotlin (Maven)
Package
io.netty:netty, io.netty:netty-codec, org.jboss.netty:netty
Disclosed
09.09.2021
Updated
11.10.2026 12:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-grg4-wf29-r9vv - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: org.jboss.netty:netty

All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

All (10) in the archive
Total entries
10
First → latest
10.2019 12.2021
Without a fix
9
Exploited in attacks
0

Severity breakdown

  • Critical 1
  • High 4
  • Medium 5

Disclosures per year

  1. 2019: 1
  2. 2020: 3
  3. 2021: 6
  4. 2022: 0
  5. 2023: 0
  6. 2024: 0
  7. 2025: 0
  8. 2026: 0
Severity:
  1. Bzip2Decoder doesn't allow setting size restrictions for decompressed data this entry
    High · 7.5 CVE-2021-37136 all versions no fix
  2. High · 7.5 CVE-2015-2156 < 3.9.8.Final, >= 3.10.0, < 3.10.3.Final 3.9.8.Final, 3.10.3.Final
  3. Critical · 9.1 CVE-2019-20444 all versions no fix
  4. High · 7.5 CVE-2019-16869 <= 3.2.9.Final no fix

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