CVE-2020-36218 in buttplug Crate
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2021
An issue was discovered in the buttplug crate before 1.0.4 for Rust. ButtplugFutureStateShared does not properly consider (!Send|!Sync) objects, leading to a data race.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-36218 affects the buttplug crate version 1.0.3 and earlier in the Rust programming environment. This security flaw resides within the ButtplugFutureStateShared component which fails to properly handle types that are marked as Sync. The buttplug crate serves as a communication framework for interacting with various adult toys and devices through computer interfaces, making it a component that could potentially be exploited in scenarios involving connected hardware devices.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of Rust's Send and Sync traits within the ButtplugFutureStateShared implementation. In Rust, Send and Sync are fundamental traits that determine whether a type can be safely transferred between threads or shared across thread boundaries. When a type is marked as Sync, it explicitly indicates that the type cannot be safely shared between threads or moved between threads. The buttplug crate fails to properly account for these constraints when managing shared state, creating a scenario where data races can occur when the system attempts to manage objects that should not be concurrently accessed by multiple threads.
This flaw manifests as a data race condition that can potentially lead to memory corruption, undefined behavior, or other unstable system states when the buttplug crate manages hardware device communications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-threaded environments where the crate might be handling concurrent device interactions or asynchronous operations. When the system attempts to share objects that are not designed to be thread-safe, it creates opportunities for race conditions that can be exploited to cause system instability or potentially enable arbitrary code execution depending on the specific implementation details and memory layout.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially compromise the integrity of device communications and user data. In contexts where the buttplug crate is used for security-sensitive applications or environments requiring reliable hardware interaction, this data race could lead to unpredictable behavior during device operations. The vulnerability affects any application that utilizes the buttplug crate for Rust-based hardware device management and could be particularly problematic in embedded systems or IoT environments where device reliability is paramount. This issue aligns with CWE-362 which specifically addresses race conditions and improper handling of concurrent access to shared resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require updating to version 1.0.4 or later of the buttplug crate where the developers have addressed the improper handling of Sync objects. System administrators and developers should conduct thorough testing of their applications after applying this update to ensure no regressions have occurred in device communication functionality. Additionally, implementing proper thread safety checks and ensuring that all shared state management properly accounts for Rust's Send and Sync constraints can help prevent similar issues in other components. The fix typically involves implementing proper synchronization mechanisms or ensuring that shared state is only accessed by types that are properly marked as Send and Sync, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1566 for credential access through system exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing continuous security monitoring and vulnerability assessment processes to identify and remediate similar issues in other third-party libraries and dependencies.