CVE-2022-36086: rust-osdev linked-list-allocator

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2022-36086 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) vulnerability in rust-osdev linked-list-allocator. EPSS estimates a 0.86% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 58% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 07-09-2022
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 22-04-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

linked_list_allocator is an allocator usable for no_std systems. Prior to version 0.10.2, the heap initialization methods were missing a minimum size check for the given heap size argument. This could lead to out-of-bound writes when a heap was initialized with a size smaller than `3 * size_of::<usize>` because of metadata write operations. This vulnerability impacts all the initialization functions on the `Heap` and `LockedHeap` types, including `Heap::new`, `Heap::init`, `Heap::init_from_slice`, and `LockedHeap::new`. It also affects multiple uses of the `Heap::extend` method. Version 0.10.2 contains a patch for the issue. As a workaround, ensure that the heap is only initialized with a size larger than `3 * size_of::<usize>` and that the `Heap::extend` method is only called with sizes larger than `2 * size_of::<usize>()`. Also, ensure that the total heap size is (and stays) a multiple of `2 * size_of::<usize>()`.

• CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferThe product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it reads from or writes to a memory location outside the buffer's intended boundary. This may result in read or write operations on unexpected memory locations that could be linked to other variables, data structures, or internal program data.
• CWE-787Out-of-bounds WriteThe product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
• CWE-1284Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in InputThe product receives input that is expected to specify a quantity (such as size or length), but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the quantity has the required properties.