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6.3
Apache HTTP Server: Corrupted cursor position leads to data access errors
published 2 months ago
Summary
Apache HTTP Server may incorrectly access data in memory, leading to unexpected behavior or crashes. This issue affects Apache HTTP Server's performance and security. Update to the latest version to fix this issue.
What to do
- Update newpavlov block_buffer to version 0.12.1.
Affected software
| Ecosystem | Vendor | Product | Affected versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| rust | newpavlov | block_buffer |
< 0.12.1 Fix: upgrade to 0.12.1
|
Original advisory text
block_buffer: panic corrupts inline buffer position
### 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
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
Internet-facing
60 days
Internal
At next upgrade
- Not known to be exploited
- Needs hands-on effort to exploit (estimated)
- Gives an attacker partial control (estimated)
Type
CWE-119Buffer Overflow
Timeline
Published19 Aug 2026
Updated19 Aug 2026
First seen19 Aug 2026
Sources
GHSA-qwgh-2vcv-g2f7 · GHSA
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