block_buffer: panic corrupts inline buffer position
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
### Summary A caught panic may leave the cursor position of `EagerBuffer` or `ReadBuffer` in a corrupted state; this in turn allows out-of-bounds reads/writes. ### Details & PoC The following two tests fail miri: ```rust #[cfg(miri)] #[test] fn eager_digest_blocks_panic_corrupts_inline_position() { // `EagerBuffer` stores its cursor in the last byte of the internal block. // When `digest_blocks` completes a previously partial block, it overwrites // that byte with input data before invoking the caller-provided `compress` // callback. If the callback panics, safe code can catch the panic and keep // using the buffer while its cursor byte no longer satisfies the internal // `pos < block_size` invariant. Under Miri this `get_pos` call reaches the // `unreachable_unchecked` used for the assumed-valid cursor. let mut buf = EagerBuffer::<U4>::new(&[1, 2]); let _ = std::panic::catch_unwind(std::panic::AssertUnwindSafe(|| { buf.digest_blocks(&[3, 0xff], |_| panic!("simulated compression failure")); })); let _ = buf.get_pos(); } #[cfg(miri)] #[test] fn read_buffer_generator_panic_corrupts_inline_position() { // `ReadBuffer` stores its cursor in `buffer[0]`, but `write_block` gives // `gen_block` mutable access to the whole internal block before restoring // `buffer[0]` to a valid cursor. If `gen_block` writes an arbitrary first // byte and panics, safe code can catch the panic and later observe an // invalid cursor. Under Miri this `get_pos` call reaches the // `unreachable_unchecked` used for the assumed-valid cursor. let mut buf = ReadBuffer::<U4>::default(); let _ = std::panic::catch_unwind(std::panic::AssertUnwindSafe(|| { buf.write_block( 1, |block| { block[0] = 0xff; panic!("simulated block generation failure"); }, |_| {}, ); })); let _ = buf.get_pos(); } ``` They fail on an `unreachable_unchecked!()` under the invariant for the `pos` to always be within bounds of the block. ### Impact While the byte that overwrites `pos` may come from untrusted input and is therefore attacker-controlled, this still relies on the surrounding code catching the panic and carrying on, which should be uncommon in practice. For this to be exploitable, the attacker also needs a way to trigger a panic here; I have not investigated how feasible that is. ### Credits The issue was discovered by GPT-5.5
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | block_buffer (crates.io) | 0.11.0 to before 0.12.1 | 0.12.1 | Patch available | GHSA-qwgh-2vcv-g2f7 |
- block_buffer (crates.io) Vendor— Affected 0.11.0 to before 0.12.1 Fixed in 0.12.1 Patch available GHSA-qwgh-2vcv-g2f7
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-qwgh-2vcv-g2f7 block_buffer (crates.io) Fixed in 0.12.1 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-qwgh-2vcv-g2f7
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · GHSA-qwgh-2vcv-g2f7
References
Sources
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