// For flags

CVE-2024-43806

`rustix::fs::Dir` iterator with the `linux_raw` backend can cause memory explosion

Severity Score

6.5
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track*
*SSVC
Descriptions

Rustix is a set of safe Rust bindings to POSIX-ish APIs. When using `rustix::fs::Dir` using the `linux_raw` backend, it's possible for the iterator to "get stuck" when an IO error is encountered. Combined with a memory over-allocation issue in `rustix::fs::Dir::read_more`, this can cause quick and unbounded memory explosion (gigabytes in a few seconds if used on a hot path) and eventually lead to an OOM crash of the application. The symptoms were initially discovered in https://github.com/imsnif/bandwhich/issues/284. That post has lots of details of our investigation. Full details can be read on the GHSA-c827-hfw6-qwvm repo advisory. If a program tries to access a directory with its file descriptor after the file has been unlinked (or any other action that leaves the `Dir` iterator in the stuck state), and the implementation does not break after seeing an error, it can cause a memory explosion. As an example, Linux's various virtual file systems (e.g. `/proc`, `/sys`) can contain directories that spontaneously pop in and out of existence. Attempting to iterate over them using `rustix::fs::Dir` directly or indirectly (e.g. with the `procfs` crate) can trigger this fault condition if the implementation decides to continue on errors. An attacker knowledgeable about the implementation details of a vulnerable target can therefore try to trigger this fault condition via any one or a combination of several available APIs. If successful, the application host will quickly run out of memory, after which the application will likely be terminated by an OOM killer, leading to denial of service. This issue has been addressed in release versions 0.35.15, 0.36.16, 0.37.25, and 0.38.19. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this issue.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Track*
Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Partial
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2024-08-16 CVE Reserved
  • 2024-08-26 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-26 CVE Updated
  • 2024-08-27 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Bytecodealliance
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Rustix
Search vendor "Bytecodealliance" for product "Rustix"
>= 0.35.11 < 0.35.15
Search vendor "Bytecodealliance" for product "Rustix" and version " >= 0.35.11 < 0.35.15"
en
Affected
Bytecodealliance
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Rustix
Search vendor "Bytecodealliance" for product "Rustix"
>= 0.36.0 < 0.36.16
Search vendor "Bytecodealliance" for product "Rustix" and version " >= 0.36.0 < 0.36.16"
en
Affected
Bytecodealliance
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Rustix
Search vendor "Bytecodealliance" for product "Rustix"
>= 0.37.0 < 0.37.25
Search vendor "Bytecodealliance" for product "Rustix" and version " >= 0.37.0 < 0.37.25"
en
Affected
Bytecodealliance
Search vendor "Bytecodealliance"
Rustix
Search vendor "Bytecodealliance" for product "Rustix"
>= 0.38.0 < 0.38.19
Search vendor "Bytecodealliance" for product "Rustix" and version " >= 0.38.0 < 0.38.19"
en
Affected