CVE-2021-45680 : What You Need to Know

An issue was discovered in the vec-const crate before 2.0.0 for Rust. It tries to construct a Vec from a pointer to a const slice, leading to memory corruption.

Understanding CVE-2021-45680

What is CVE-2021-45680?

The CVE-2021-45680 vulnerability is found in the vec-const crate for Rust, where constructing a Vec from a pointer to a const slice can result in memory corruption.

The Impact of CVE-2021-45680

This vulnerability could lead to memory corruption, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-45680

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the improper construction of a Vec from a pointer to a const slice, which can result in memory corruption.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions before 2.0.0 are affected

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by supplying a specially crafted const slice pointer, leading to unintended memory access and potential corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the vec-const crate to version 2.0.0 or newer to mitigate this vulnerability
Avoid passing pointers to const slices when constructing Vec objects

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for updates and security advisories related to Rust crates
Implement secure coding practices and conduct thorough code reviews

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely patching of dependencies and stay informed about security patches released by the Rust community.