CVE-2024-11991

Uninitialized memory access in Motoko incremental garbage collector

Published Dec 9, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 5.6 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Motoko's incremental garbage collector is impacted by an uninitialized memory access bug, caused by incorrect use of write barriers in a few locations. This vulnerability could potentially allow unauthorized read or write access to a Canister's memory. However, exploiting this bug requires the Canister to enable the incremental garbage collector or enhanced orthogonal persistence, which are non-default features in Motoko.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Disable incremental garbage collector and enhanced orthogonal persistence. i.e. do not compile with —incremental-gc or --enhanced-orthogonal-persistence options.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2024-34242 Motoko's incremental garbage collector is impacted by an uninitialized memory access bug, caused by incorrect use of write barriers in a few locations. This vulnerability could potentially allow unauthorized read or write access to a Canister's memory. However, exploiting this bug requires the Canister to enable the incremental garbage collector or enhanced orthogonal persistence, which are non-default features in Motoko.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Dfinity
Dfinity motoko
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:dfinity:motoko:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Dfinity
Dfinity motoko
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00038}

epss

{'score': 0.00042}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Motoko's incremental garbage collector is impacted by an uninitialized memory access bug, caused by incorrect use of write barriers in a few locations. This vulnerability could potentially allow unauthorized read or write access to a Canister's memory. However, exploiting this bug requires the Canister to enable the incremental garbage collector or enhanced orthogonal persistence, which are non-default features in Motoko.
Title Uninitialized memory access in Motoko incremental garbage collector
Weaknesses CWE-908
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Dfinity
Published
Updated
Dec 9, 2024, 3:07 PM
Reserved
Nov 29, 2024, 10:02 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Dec 9, 2024, 3:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 6:58 AM