CVE-2024-36760 in rhai
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2024
A stack overflow vulnerability was found in version 1.18.0 of rhai. The flaw position is: (/ SRC/rhai/SRC/eval/STMT. Rs in rhai: : eval: : STMT: : _ $LT $impl $u20 $rhai.. engine.. Engine$GT$::eval_stmt::h3f1d68ce37fc6e96). Due to the stack overflow is a recursive call/SRC/rhai/SRC/eval/STMT. Rs file eval_stmt_block function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2024
The stack overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-36760 resides within the rhai scripting engine version 1.18.0, specifically manifesting in the evaluation module at the path src/rhai/src/eval/stmt.rs. This critical flaw occurs during the execution of script statements through the eval_stmt function which is part of the Engine implementation. The vulnerability stems from a recursive call pattern within the eval_stmt_block function that lacks proper depth limiting mechanisms. When processing certain script inputs, the recursive nature of statement evaluation can exhaust the system stack space, leading to a potential crash or arbitrary code execution scenario.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic stack overflow pattern where recursive function calls accumulate stack frames without adequate termination conditions or depth tracking. The rhai engine's statement evaluation logic processes script constructs recursively, and when confronted with deeply nested or maliciously crafted script structures, the recursive calls continue until the stack space is completely consumed. This behavior directly aligns with CWE-772, which categorizes insufficient resource pool management, and specifically relates to stack-based buffer overflows that occur due to unbounded recursion. The flaw represents a fundamental design issue in the engine's evaluation loop where proper stack depth monitoring and recursion limits are absent.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to applications that utilize rhai as their scripting engine, particularly those that process untrusted user input or external script files. An attacker could craft malicious scripts that trigger the recursive evaluation path, causing denial of service through application crashes or potentially enabling arbitrary code execution if the stack overflow leads to memory corruption. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the integrity of systems relying on rhai for dynamic script execution, potentially compromising data processing pipelines and automated workflows. This vulnerability affects the broader software supply chain since rhai is commonly used in game engines, embedded systems, and application scripting frameworks where dynamic code execution is essential.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-36760 should prioritize immediate version updates to rhai 1.18.1 or later, which contain the necessary stack depth limiting fixes. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent potentially malicious script constructs from reaching the evaluation engine. Additionally, deploying runtime monitoring and stack overflow detection mechanisms can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1499.004 for endpoint denial of service, emphasizing the need for both preventive measures and detection capabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems utilizing rhai to trusted inputs only, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar recursion-based vulnerabilities in other scripting engines or interpreters.