linked_list_allocator vulnerable to out-of-bound writes on `Heap` initialization and `Heap::extend`
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-119 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
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>()`.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rust-osdev | linked-list-allocator | before 0.10.2 | 0.10.2 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | linked_list_allocator (crates.io) | before 0.10.2 | 0.10.2 | Patch available | GHSA-xg8p-34w2-j49j |
- linked-list-allocator Vendorrust-osdev Affected before 0.10.2 Fixed in 0.10.2 Patch available CNA
- linked_list_allocator (crates.io) Vendor— Affected before 0.10.2 Fixed in 0.10.2 Patch available GHSA-xg8p-34w2-j49j
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:rust-osdev:linked-list-allocator:*:*:*:*:*:rust:*:* | before 0.10.2 | Vulnerable | rust-osdev |
- cpe:2.3:a:rust-osdev:linked-list-allocator:*:*:*:*:*:rust:*:* Versions before 0.10.2 Vulnerable ·rust-osdev
Remediation
- Fix · CNA linked-list-allocator (rust-osdev) Fixed in 0.10.2
- Fix · GHSA-xg8p-34w2-j49j linked_list_allocator (crates.io) Fixed in 0.10.2 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-36086
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xg8p-34w2-j49j
References
Exploit 1
Patch 1
Advisory 2
Sources
- CVE-2022-36086 · CVE Program
- CVE-2022-36086 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xg8p-34w2-j49j · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences