CVE-2020-35711 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue has been discovered in the arc-swap crate before 0.4.8 (and 1.x before 1.1.0) for Rust, potentially leading to dangling references.

Understanding CVE-2020-35711

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the arc-swap crate for Rust that could result in returning dangling references.

What is CVE-2020-35711?

The issue arises when using arc_swap::access::Map with the Constant test helper or a user-supplied implementation of the Access trait, leading to potential dangling references.

The Impact of CVE-2020-35711

The vulnerability could allow attackers to manipulate dangling references, potentially leading to memory corruption or unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-35711

This section provides more in-depth technical details about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the arc-swap crate versions before 0.4.8 and 1.x before 1.1.0 could result in returning dangling references when using arc_swap::access::Map with specific helpers or implementations.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected versions: arc-swap crate before 0.4.8 and 1.x before 1.1.0
Systems using the affected versions of the arc-swap crate for Rust

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting the vulnerability by utilizing arc_swap::access::Map with the Constant test helper or a custom Access trait implementation

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-35711 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the arc-swap crate to version 0.4.8 or 1.1.0 to mitigate the vulnerability
Monitor for any unusual behavior that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update dependencies and libraries to ensure the latest security patches are applied
Conduct security audits and code reviews to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates related to the arc-swap crate
Apply patches promptly to address any newly discovered vulnerabilities