Skip to content
Noroxi
CVE-2022-21698· NVD / CVE Program· CNA GitHub_M

Uncontrolled Resource Consumption in promhttp

client_golang is the instrumentation library for Go applications in Prometheus, and the promhttp package in client_golang provides tooling around HTTP servers and clients. In client_golang prior to version 1.11.1, HTTP server is susceptible to a Denial of Service through unbounded cardinality, and potential memory exhaustion, when handling requests with non-standard HTTP methods. In order to be affected, an instrumented software must use any of `promhttp.InstrumentHandler*` middleware except `RequestsInFlight`; not filter any specific methods (e.g GET) before middleware; pass metric with `method` label name to our middleware; and not have any firewall/LB/proxy that filters away requests with unknown `method`. client_golang version 1.11.1 contains a patch for this issue. Several workarounds are available, including removing the `method` label name from counter/gauge used in the InstrumentHandler; turning off affected promhttp handlers; adding custom middleware before promhttp handler that will sanitize the request method given by Go http.Request; and using a reverse proxy or web application firewall, configured to only allow a limited set of methods.

HighCVSS 7.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available

Noroxi analysis

No Noroxi analysis for this record yet

We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.

We use this product, ask for help
Published
Feb 15, 2022
Updated
Jun 17, 2026
EPSS
6.0% · 93th percentile
Follow this CVE

Sign in to follow · You’ll be notified if a followed record enters KEV, gets an exploit or is updated.

Report tools

JSON

Action score

32

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
2 / 30 · 6.0%

CISA SSVC decision

Exploitation
none
Automatable
yes
Technical impact
partial

Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.

CNA vs NVD score

NVD
7.5
CNA · GitHub_M
7.5
agree

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

Affected systems

VendorProduct
prometheusclient golang
fedoraprojectfedora
fedoraprojectextra packages for enterprise linux
rdo projectrdo

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • fedoraproject extra packages for enterprise linux7.0
  • fedoraproject extra packages for enterprise linux8.0
  • fedoraproject fedora34
  • fedoraproject fedora35
  • fedoraproject fedora36
  • fedoraproject fedora37
  • prometheus client golangbefore 1.11.1
  • rdo project rdoall versions

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • prometheus client_golang

    • < 1.11.1affected

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
AlmaLinux:8aardvark-dnsbefore 2:1.0.1-27.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc442:1.0.1-27.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44
AlmaLinux:8buildahbefore 1:1.24.2-4.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc441:1.24.2-4.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44
AlmaLinux:8buildahbefore 1.19.9-6.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf1.19.9-6.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf
AlmaLinux:8buildah-testsbefore 1:1.24.2-4.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc441:1.24.2-4.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44
AlmaLinux:8buildah-testsbefore 1.19.9-6.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf1.19.9-6.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf
AlmaLinux:8cockpit-podmanbefore 29-2.module_el8.6.0+2876+9ed4eae229-2.module_el8.6.0+2876+9ed4eae2
AlmaLinux:8cockpit-podmanbefore 43-1.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf543-1.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5
AlmaLinux:8conmonbefore 2:2.1.0-1.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf52:2.1.0-1.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5
AlmaLinux:8conmonbefore 2:2.0.26-3.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf2:2.0.26-3.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf
AlmaLinux:8container-selinuxbefore 2:2.179.1-1.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc442:2.179.1-1.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44
AlmaLinux:8container-selinuxbefore 2:2.189.0-1.module_el8.6.0+3336+00d107d52:2.189.0-1.module_el8.6.0+3336+00d107d5
AlmaLinux:8container-selinuxbefore 2:2.189.0-1.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf2:2.189.0-1.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf
AlmaLinux:8container-selinuxbefore 2:2.189.0-1.module_el8.7.0+3406+a17c41802:2.189.0-1.module_el8.7.0+3406+a17c4180
AlmaLinux:8containernetworking-pluginsbefore 0.9.1-1.module_el8.6.0+3136+bfcd65b60.9.1-1.module_el8.6.0+3136+bfcd65b6
AlmaLinux:8containernetworking-pluginsbefore 1:1.0.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc441:1.0.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44
AlmaLinux:8containernetworking-pluginsbefore 0.9.1-1.module_el8.6.0+2876+9ed4eae20.9.1-1.module_el8.6.0+2876+9ed4eae2
AlmaLinux:8containers-commonbefore 1:1.2.4-2.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf1:1.2.4-2.module_el8.7.0+3297+1eb250cf
AlmaLinux:8containers-commonbefore 2:1-27.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc442:1-27.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44
AlmaLinux:8critbefore 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf53.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5
AlmaLinux:8critbefore 3.15-1.module_el8.6.0+3136+bfcd65b63.15-1.module_el8.6.0+3136+bfcd65b6
AlmaLinux:8critbefore 3.15-1.module_el8.6.0+2876+9ed4eae23.15-1.module_el8.6.0+2876+9ed4eae2
AlmaLinux:8critbefore 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2751+06427ca33.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2751+06427ca3
AlmaLinux:8criubefore 3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2751+06427ca33.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2751+06427ca3
AlmaLinux:8criubefore 3.15-1.module_el8.6.0+2876+9ed4eae23.15-1.module_el8.6.0+2876+9ed4eae2

+96

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
almalinux:aardvark-dns2:1.0.1-27.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:buildah1:1.24.2-4.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:buildah-tests1:1.24.2-4.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:cockpit-podman43-1.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:conmon2:2.1.0-1.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:container-selinux2:2.179.1-1.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:containernetworking-plugins1:1.0.1-2.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:containers-common2:1-27.module_el8.6.0+2878+e681bc44 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:crit3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2751+06427ca3 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:criu3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2877+8e437bf5 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:criu-devel3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2751+06427ca3 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:criu-libs3.15-3.module_el8.6.0+2751+06427ca3 · AlmaLinux:8Package registry (OSV)
debian:golang-github-prometheus-client-golang1.11.1-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
Go:github.com/prometheus/client_golang1.11.1Package registry (OSV)
Go:go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/github.com/emicklei/go-restful/otelrestful0.44.0Package registry (OSV)
Go:go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/github.com/gin-gonic/gin/otelgin0.44.0Package registry (OSV)
Go:go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/github.com/gorilla/mux/otelmux0.44.0Package registry (OSV)
Go:go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/github.com/labstack/echo/otelecho0.44.0Package registry (OSV)
Go:go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/gopkg.in/macaron.v1/otelmacaron0.44.0Package registry (OSV)
Go:go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/net/http/httptrace/otelhttptrace0.44.0Package registry (OSV)
Go:go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/net/http/otelhttp0.39.0Package registry (OSV)
Go:go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/net/http/otelhttp0.44.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:firewalld0.9.3-150300.3.6.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:golang-github-prometheus-alertmanager0.23.0-150100.4.7.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:golang-github-prometheus-node_exporter1.3.0-150100.3.12.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:golang-github-prometheus-prometheus2.32.1-150100.4.9.2 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:golang-github-QubitProducts-exporter_exporter0.4.0-16.1 · openSUSE:TumbleweedPackage registry (OSV)
opensuse:kubeseal0.17.4-1.1 · openSUSE:TumbleweedPackage registry (OSV)
opensuse:podman3.4.7-150400.4.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.4Package registry (OSV)
red hat:aardvark-dns2:1.0.1-27.module+el8.6.0+14673+621cb8be · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)

+39

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

EPSS, last 120 days

FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
  • No account or password is required.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
none
Integrity
none
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

nvd-primary

Root cause

Code that parses nested structures sets no depth or size limit. A small input can turn into a disproportionate processing load.

A representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.

Vulnerable

ts
function expand(node) {  return node.children.map(expand);}

Fixed

ts
const MAX_DEPTH = 32;function expand(node, depth = 0) {  if (depth > MAX_DEPTH) throw new Error("too deep");  return node.children.map((c) => expand(c, depth + 1));}

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records