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TI-2023-05736 Aliases CVE-2023-6245GHSA-7787-p7x6-fq3j

Infinite decoding loop through specially crafted payload

Priority MEDIUM 41CWE-1288Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-835.

Summary

The Candid library causes a Denial of Service while parsing a specially crafted payload with 'empty' data type. For example, if the payload is `record { * ; empty }` and the canister interface expects `record { * }` then the Rust candid decoder treats empty as an extra field required by the type. The problem with the type empty is that the candid Rust library wrongly categorizes empty as a recoverable error when skipping the field and thus causing an infinite decoding loop. Canisters using affected versions of candid are exposed to denial of service by causing the decoding to run indefinitely until the canister traps due to reaching maximum instruction limit per execution round. Repeated exposure to the payload will result in degraded performance of the canister. Note: Canisters written in Motoko are unaffected.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.01212 68th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Candid (Internet Computer): 0.9.10candid (crates.io): 0.9.10

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
Internet ComputerCandid0.9.0 to before 0.9.100.9.10Patch availableCNA
—candid (crates.io)0.9.0 to before 0.9.100.9.10Patch availableGHSA-7787-p7x6-fq3j
  • Candid VendorInternet Computer Affected 0.9.0 to before 0.9.10 Fixed in 0.9.10 Patch available CNA
  • candid (crates.io) Vendor— Affected 0.9.0 to before 0.9.10 Fixed in 0.9.10 Patch available GHSA-7787-p7x6-fq3j

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:dfinity:candid:*:*:*:*:*:rust:*:*0.9.0 to before 0.9.10VulnerableInternet Computer
  • cpe:2.3:a:dfinity:candid:*:*:*:*:*:rust:*:* Versions 0.9.0 to before 0.9.10 Vulnerable ·Internet Computer

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Candid (Internet Computer) Fixed in 0.9.10
  • Fix · GHSA-7787-p7x6-fq3j candid (crates.io) Fixed in 0.9.10 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-6245
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7787-p7x6-fq3j

References

Sources