# CVE-2021-45685: columnar: Read on uninitialized buffer may cause UB (ColumnarReadExt::read_typed_vec())

> Attackers can read uninitialized memory via the read_typed_vec function in the Rust columnar crate, potentially exposing sensitive data.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Dec 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9mp7-45qh-r8j8, GHSA-cxcc-q839-2cw9, RUSTSEC-2021-0087

## What is CVE-2021-45685?

CVE-2021-45685 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 26 Dec 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in the columnar crate through 2021-01-07 for Rust. ColumnarReadExt::read_typed_vec may read from uninitialized memory locations.

Weakness: CWE-908 (Use of Uninitialized Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-45685?

5 open source packages ship an affected version, including columnar. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `columnar` | crates.io | All versions to 0.0.19 | None |
| `columnar` | crates.io | All versions to 0.0.19 | None |
| `columnar` | crates.io | All versions to 0.0.19 | None |
| `columnar` | crates.io | All versions to 0.0.19 | None |
| `columnar` | crates.io | From 0.0.0-0 | 0.1.0 |

Products: Columnar Project Columnar.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-45685?

Upgrade columnar to 0.1.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2021-45685 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-45685 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-45685 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-45685 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 26 Dec 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-45685 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- columnar (crates.io): affected all versions up to 0.0.19; no fix listed
- columnar (crates.io): affected all versions up to 0.0.19; no fix listed
- columnar (crates.io): affected all versions up to 0.0.19; no fix listed
- columnar (crates.io): affected all versions up to 0.0.19; no fix listed
- columnar (crates.io): affected from 0.0.0-0; fixed in 0.1.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45685/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45685/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-45685
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-45685
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-45685

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45685/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.