CVE-2022-21708
Denial of Service in graphql-go
graphql-go is a GraphQL server with a focus on ease of use. In versions prior to 1.3.0 there exists a DoS vulnerability that is possible due to a bug in the library that would allow an attacker with specifically designed queries to cause stack overflow panics. Any user with access to the GraphQL handler can send these queries and cause stack overflows. This in turn could potentially compromise the ability of the server to serve data to its users. The issue has been patched in version v1.3.0. The only known workaround for this issue is to disable the graphql.MaxDepth option from your schema which is not recommended.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
6.5
Denial of Service in graphql-go
graphql-go is a GraphQL server with a focus on ease of use. In versions prior to 1.3.0 there exists a DoS vulnerability that is possible due to a bug in the library that would allow an attacker with specifically designed queries to cause stack overflow panics. Any user with access to the GraphQL handler can send these queries and cause stack overflows. This in turn could potentially compromise the ability of the server to serve data to its users. The issue has been patched in version v1.3.0. The only known workaround for this issue is to disable the graphql.MaxDepth option from your schema which is not recommended.
- Record
CVE-2022-21708- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-0647
6.5
graphql-go is a GraphQL server with a focus on ease of use. In versions prior to 1.3.0 there exists a DoS vulnerability that is possible due to a bug in the library that would allow an attacker with specifically designed queries to cause stack overflow panics. Any user with access to the GraphQL handler can send these queries and cause stack overflows. This in turn could potentially compromise the ability of the server to serve data to its users. The issue has been patched in version v1.3.0. The only known workaround for this issue is to disable the graphql.MaxDepth option from your schema which is not recommended.
- Record
EUVD-2022-0647- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-mh3m-8c74-74xh
6.5
Denial of Service in graphql-go
Impact
This is a DoS vulnerability that is possible due to a bug in the library that would allow an attacker with specifically designed queries to cause stack overflow panics. Any user with access to the GraphQL handler can send these queries and cause stack overflows. This in turn could potentially compromise the ability of the server to serve data to its users. To make things worse the only mitigation in affected versions creates opportunities for other attacks. This issue is only available if you are using graphql.MaxDepth option in your schema (which is highly recommended in most cases).
Patches
The issue has been patched in version v1.3.0. We have been trying to maintain backwards compatibility and avoid breaking changes so upgrading should not be problematic.
Workarounds
The best workaround is to patch to a version greater than or equal to v1.3.0.
Otherwise, the only workaround in versions prior to v1.3.0 is to disable the graphql.MaxDepth option from your schema. Unfortunately, this could potentially create opportunities for other attacks.
References
There are no references or links. This issue was reported privately and was fixed before creating this Security Advisory.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments feel free to reach out to @pavelnikolov or @tony on the Gopher Slack.
- Record
GHSA-mh3m-8c74-74xh- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
6.5
graphql-go is a GraphQL server with a focus on ease of use. In versions prior to 1.3.0 there exists a DoS vulnerability that is possible due to a bug in the library that would allow an attacker with specifically designed queries to cause stack overflow panics. Any user with access to the GraphQL handler can send these queries and cause stack overflows. This in turn could potentially compromise the ability of the server to serve data to its users. The issue has been patched in version v1.3.0. The only known workaround for this issue is to disable the graphql.MaxDepth option from your schema which is not recommended.
- Record
CVE-2022-21708- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 3.5 Low
AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-400, CWE-674
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
6.5
Denial of Service in graphql-go
graphql-go is a GraphQL server with a focus on ease of use. In versions prior to 1.3.0 there exists a DoS vulnerability that is possible due to a bug in the library that would allow an attacker with specifically designed queries to cause stack overflow panics. Any user with access to the GraphQL handler can send these queries and cause stack overflows. This in turn could potentially compromise the ability of the server to serve data to its users. The issue has been patched in version v1.3.0. The only known workaround for this issue is to disable the graphql.MaxDepth option from your schema which is not recommended.
- Record
CVE-2022-21708- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2022-21708
6.5
graphql-go is a GraphQL server with a focus on ease of use. In versions prior to 1.3.0 there exists a DoS vulnerability that is possible due to a bug in the library that would allow an attacker with specifically designed queries to cause stack overflow panics. Any user with access to the GraphQL handler can send these queries and cause stack overflows. This in turn could potentially compromise the ability of the server to serve data to its users. The issue has been patched in version v1.3.0. The only known workaround for this issue is to disable the graphql.MaxDepth option from your schema which is not recommended.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2022-21708- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
OSVGHSA-mh3m-8c74-74xh
6.5
Denial of Service in graphql-go
Impact
This is a DoS vulnerability that is possible due to a bug in the library that would allow an attacker with specifically designed queries to cause stack overflow panics. Any user with access to the GraphQL handler can send these queries and cause stack overflows. This in turn could potentially compromise the ability of the server to serve data to its users. To make things worse the only mitigation in affected versions creates opportunities for other attacks. This issue is only available if you are using graphql.MaxDepth option in your schema (which is highly recommended in most cases).
Patches
The issue has been patched in version v1.3.0. We have been trying to maintain backwards compatibility and avoid breaking changes so upgrading should not be problematic.
Workarounds
The best workaround is to patch to a version greater than or equal to v1.3.0.
Otherwise, the only workaround in versions prior to v1.3.0 is to disable the graphql.MaxDepth option from your schema. Unfortunately, this could potentially create opportunities for other attacks.
References
There are no references or links. This issue was reported privately and was fixed before creating this Security Advisory.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments feel free to reach out to @pavelnikolov or @tony on the Gopher Slack.
- Record
GHSA-mh3m-8c74-74xh- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-400
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2022-21708
6.5
graphql-go is a GraphQL server with a focus on ease of use. In versions prior to 1.3.0 there exists a DoS vulnerability that is possible due to a bug in the library that would allow an attacker with specifically designed queries to cause stack overflow panics. Any user with access to the GraphQL handler can send these queries and cause stack overflows. This in turn could potentially compromise the ability of the server to serve data to its users. The issue has been patched in version v1.3.0. The only known workaround for this issue is to disable the graphql.MaxDepth option from your schema which is not recommended.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2022-21708- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGO-2022-0300 No score
Panic via malicious inputs in github.com/graph-gophers/graphql-go
Malicious inputs can cause a panic.
A maliciously crafted input can cause a stack overflow and panic. Any user with access to the GraphQL can send such a query.
This issue only occurs when using the graphql.MaxDepth schema option (which is highly recommended in most cases).
- Record
GO-2022-0300- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
github.com/graph-gophers/graphql-goGo |
before 1.3.0 | 1.3.0 |
golang-github-graph-gophers-graphql-goDebian:12 |
before 1.3.0-1 | 1.3.0-1 |
golang-github-graph-gophers-graphql-goDebian:13 |
before 1.3.0-1 | 1.3.0-1 |
golang-github-graph-gophers-graphql-goDebian:14 |
before 1.3.0-1 | 1.3.0-1 |
golang-github-graph-gophers-graphql-goUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20180609.bb97385-2 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2022-21708 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Graph-gophers Graphql-go, published January 21, 2022. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.24%, the 69th percentile. Fixed in github.com/graph-gophers/graphql-go 1.3.0.
References
github.com/graph-gophers/graphql-go/security/advisories/GHSA-mh3m-8c74-74xh
github.com/graph-gophers/graphql-go/commit/eae31ca73eb3473c544710955d1dbebc22605bfe
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21708
pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2022-0300
github.com/advisories/GHSA-mh3m-8c74-74xh
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2022/21xxx/CVE-2022-21708.json