rkyv: Panic safety bugs in `InlineVec::clear` and `SerVec::clear` enable arbitrary code execution
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub.
Summary
`InlineVec::clear()` and `SerVec::clear()` in `rkyv` were not panic-safe. Both functions iterate over their elements and call `drop_in_place` on each, updating `self.len` only *after* the loop. If an element's `Drop` implementation panics during the loop, `self.len` is left at its original value. A subsequent invocation of `clear()` on the same container then re-visits the already-freed elements: - `InlineVec::clear()` is called again from `InlineVec`'s own `Drop` implementation when the value is later dropped. - `SerVec::clear()` is called again by `SerVec::with_capacity()` after the user closure returns. ## Technical Impact - **CWE-415 (Double Free):** Heap corruption when element type holds `Box<T>` - **CWE-416 (Use-After-Free):** Memory corruption when element reads from heap during `Drop` Both vulnerabilities are triggerable entirely from safe Rust via `std::panic::catch_unwind` and require no special privileges.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | rkyv (crates.io) | 0.8.0 to before 0.8.16 | 0.8.16 | Patch available | GHSA-vfvv-c25p-m7mm |
- rkyv (crates.io) Vendor— Affected 0.8.0 to before 0.8.16 Fixed in 0.8.16 Patch available GHSA-vfvv-c25p-m7mm
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-vfvv-c25p-m7mm rkyv (crates.io) Fixed in 0.8.16 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-vfvv-c25p-m7mm
References
Sources
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