CVE-2020-35868 in rusqlite Crate
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2020
An issue was discovered in the rusqlite crate before 0.23.0 for Rust. Memory safety can be violated via UnlockNotification.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability in the rusqlite crate affects versions prior to 0230 and represents a critical memory safety issue that can be exploited through the UnlockNotification mechanism. This flaw falls under the category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability when improperly handled database operations occur within the rust programming environment.
The technical root cause stems from improper handling of unlock notifications within the sqlite database connection management system. When database connections are unlocked and subsequently accessed by multiple threads or processes, the crate fails to properly validate memory references and handle concurrent access patterns correctly. This creates opportunities for buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios that can be systematically exploited by malicious actors.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability affects any rust application that utilizes the rusqlite crate for database operations and employs unlock notification mechanisms. The attack surface is significant given that rusqlite is a widely adopted sqlite binding for rust applications, making numerous software systems potentially vulnerable to exploitation. The memory safety violation can manifest as application crashes, data corruption, or in more severe cases, remote code execution depending on the specific usage patterns and system configurations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 out-of-bounds read and CWE-476 null pointer dereference categories, while also mapping to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1070.004 for indicator removal through memory corruption exploitation patterns. Organizations using rust applications that depend on rusqlite should immediately assess their exposure and implement mitigation strategies.
Mitigation strategies include upgrading to rusqlite version 0230 or later where the memory safety issues have been addressed through proper bounds checking and concurrent access handling. Additionally, implementing proper input validation for all database operations, employing memory safety testing tools such as address sanitizers, and conducting regular security assessments of rust applications utilizing sqlite connections can help reduce risk exposure. Organizations should also consider implementing defensive programming practices including thread synchronization mechanisms and proper resource cleanup procedures to minimize potential exploitation opportunities.