CVE-2026-0994

What it is

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.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.7% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2026-01-23 15:16 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-09-01 13:18 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Details

Published

2026-01-23 15:16 UTC

Last modified

2026-09-01 13:18 UTC

Exploit probability

0.7% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-674

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Google Protobuf ≤ 33.4

Attack profile CVSS 4.0 · 8.2

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Attack requirements

Present

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High