diff --git a/groups/bal/balber/balber_berutil.cpp b/groups/bal/balber/balber_berutil.cpp
index 7b5e5a121f..7c3421025a 100644
--- a/groups/bal/balber/balber_berutil.cpp
+++ b/groups/bal/balber/balber_berutil.cpp
@@ -84,6 +84,45 @@ const u::Uint64 BerUtil_64BitFloatingPointMasks::
 const u::Uint64 BerUtil_64BitFloatingPointMasks::k_DOUBLE_SIGN_MASK =
                                                          0x8000000000000000ULL;
 
+                   // =====================
+                   // class ReadRestFunctor
+                   // =====================
+
+class ReadRestFunctor {
+    // A functor for 'string::resize_and_overwrite'.  Appends read bytes to the
+    // buffer.
+
+    // DATA
+    bsl::streambuf  *d_streamBuf;
+    int              d_oldSize;
+  public:
+    // CREATORS
+    ReadRestFunctor(bsl::streambuf *streamBuf, int oldSize);
+
+    // MODIFIERS
+    size_t operator()(char *buf, size_t newSize);
+};
+
+                   // ---------------------
+                   // class ReadRestFunctor
+                   // ---------------------
+
+// CREATORS
+ReadRestFunctor::ReadRestFunctor(bsl::streambuf *streamBuf, int oldSize)
+: d_streamBuf(streamBuf)
+, d_oldSize(oldSize)
+{
+}
+
+// MODIFIERS
+size_t ReadRestFunctor::operator()(char *buf, size_t newSize)
+{
+    bsl::streamsize nRead = d_streamBuf->sgetn(
+                                        buf + d_oldSize,
+                                        static_cast<int>(newSize) - d_oldSize);
+    return static_cast<size_t>(d_oldSize + nRead);
+}
+
 // FREE FUNCTIONS
 void warnOnce()
     // The first time this is called, issue an explanatory warning.
@@ -1084,14 +1123,31 @@ int BerUtil_StringImpUtil::getStringValue(bsl::string              *value,
         return -1;                                                    // RETURN
     }
 
-    value->resize_and_overwrite(
-        length,
-        bdlf::MemFnUtil::memFn(&bsl::streambuf::sgetn, streamBuf));
+    static const int maxInitialAllocation = 16 * 1024 * 1024;  // 16 MB
 
-    if (static_cast<bsl::string::size_type>(length) != value->size()) {
+    // 'length' could be corrupt or invalid, so we limit the initial buffer.
+    // On success the remaining bytes are read via a second pass.
+    int initialLength = length < maxInitialAllocation ? length
+                                                      : maxInitialAllocation;
+
+    // Read no more than 'maxInitialAllocation'
+    value->resize_and_overwrite(initialLength,
+                                bdlf::MemFnUtil::memFn(&bsl::streambuf::sgetn,
+                                                       streamBuf));
+    if (static_cast<size_t>(initialLength) != value->size()) {
         return -1;                                                    // RETURN
     }
 
+    if (length > initialLength) {
+        // 'length' > 'maxInitialAllocation'.  Read the rest.
+        value->resize_and_overwrite(length,
+                                    u::ReadRestFunctor(streamBuf,
+                                                       initialLength));
+        if (static_cast<size_t>(length) != value->size()) {
+            return -1;                                                // RETURN
+        }
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/groups/bal/balber/balber_berutil.t.cpp b/groups/bal/balber/balber_berutil.t.cpp
index a0824a4ec9..4814abb359 100644
--- a/groups/bal/balber/balber_berutil.t.cpp
+++ b/groups/bal/balber/balber_berutil.t.cpp
@@ -16072,6 +16072,54 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             LOOP3_ASSERT(LINE, LEN, numBytesConsumed,
                          LEN == numBytesConsumed);
         }
+
+        if (verbose) { cout << "\nDecode truncated string" << endl; }
+        {
+            const int length = 1024;  // the claimed length
+            bdlsb::MemOutStreamBuf osb;
+            ASSERT(SUCCESS == Util::putLength(&osb, length));
+            // Write 'length - 10' bytes
+            ASSERT(length > 10);
+            for (int n = length - 10; n > 0; --n) {
+                ASSERT(osb.sputc('X') == 'X');
+            }
+
+            int numBytesConsumed = 0;
+            bdlsb::FixedMemInStreamBuf isb(osb.data(), osb.length());
+            bsl::string val;
+            ASSERT(SUCCESS != Util::getValue(&isb, &val, &numBytesConsumed));
+        }
+
+        static const int notHugeStringMax = 16 * 1024 * 1024;  // 16 MB
+
+        if (verbose) { cout << "\nDecode huge string" << endl; }
+        {
+            const bsl::string hugeStr(notHugeStringMax + 256, 'X');
+            bdlsb::MemOutStreamBuf osb;
+            ASSERT(0 == Util::putValue(&osb, hugeStr));
+
+            int numBytesConsumed = 0;
+            bdlsb::FixedMemInStreamBuf isb(osb.data(), osb.length());
+            bsl::string val;
+            ASSERT(SUCCESS == Util::getValue(&isb, &val, &numBytesConsumed));
+            ASSERT(val.length() == hugeStr.length());
+            ASSERT(val == hugeStr);
+        }
+
+        if (verbose) { cout << "\nDecode truncated huge string" << endl; }
+        {
+            bdlsb::MemOutStreamBuf osb;
+            ASSERT(SUCCESS == Util::putLength(&osb, notHugeStringMax + 20));
+            // Write 10 bytes less than claimed
+            for (int n = notHugeStringMax + 10; n > 0; --n) {
+                ASSERT(osb.sputc('X') == 'X');
+            }
+
+            int numBytesConsumed = 0;
+            bdlsb::FixedMemInStreamBuf isb(osb.data(), osb.length());
+            bsl::string val;
+            ASSERT(SUCCESS != Util::getValue(&isb, &val, &numBytesConsumed));
+        }
       } break;
       case 12: {
         // --------------------------------------------------------------------