# GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh: Etcd embed auto compaction retention negative value causing a compaction loop or a crash

> An attacker can cause a denial of service in etcd by providing a negative compaction retention value, leading to high CPU usage and log spam.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 3 Feb 2024
- **Also known as:** GO-2024-2529

## What is GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh?

GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh is a denial of service vulnerability in go.etcd.io/etcd, published on 3 Feb 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

### Impact
Data Validation

### Detail
The parseCompactionRetention function in embed/etcd.go allows the retention variable value to be negative and causes the node to execute the history compaction in a loop, taking more CPU than usual and spamming logs.

### References
Find out more on this vulnerability in the [security audit report](https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/blob/master/security/SECURITY_AUDIT.pdf)

### For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
* Contact the [etcd security committee](https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/blob/master/security/security-release-process.md#product-security-committee-psc)

## Which versions are affected by GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh?

6 open source packages ship an affected version, including go.etcd.io/etcd/v3 and go.etcd.io/etcd.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `go.etcd.io/etcd/v3` | Go | All versions | None |
| `go.etcd.io/etcd/v3` | Go | All versions | 3.3.23 |
| `go.etcd.io/etcd/v3` | Go | All versions | 3.3.23 |
| `go.etcd.io/etcd/v3` | Go | From 3.4.0-rc.0 | 3.4.10 |
| `go.etcd.io/etcd/v3` | Go | From 3.4.0-rc.0 | 3.4.10 |
| `go.etcd.io/etcd` | Go | All versions | None |

## How do I fix GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh?

Upgrade go.etcd.io/etcd/v3 to a fixed version for your release line: 3.3.23 or 3.4.10.

## Is GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh is a denial of service vulnerability in go.etcd.io/etcd, published on 3 Feb 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- go.etcd.io/etcd/v3 (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed
- go.etcd.io/etcd/v3 (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 3.3.23
- go.etcd.io/etcd/v3 (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 3.3.23
- go.etcd.io/etcd/v3 (Go): affected from 3.4.0-rc.0; fixed in 3.4.10
- go.etcd.io/etcd/v3 (Go): affected from 3.4.0-rc.0; fixed in 3.4.10
- go.etcd.io/etcd (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/GHSA-pm3m-32r3-7mfh/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.