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lz4_flex's decompression can leak information from uninitialized memory or reused output buffer

High severity GitHub Reviewed Published Mar 14, 2026 in PSeitz/lz4_flex • Updated Mar 20, 2026

Package

cargo lz4_flex (Rust)

Affected versions

< 0.11.6
>= 0.12.0, < 0.12.1

Patched versions

0.11.6
0.12.1

Description

Summary

Decompressing invalid LZ4 data can leak data from uninitialized memory, or can leak content from previous decompression operations when reusing an output buffer.

Details

The LZ4 block format defines a "match copy operation" which duplicates previously written data or data from the user-supplied dict. The position of that data is defined by an offset. The data is copied within the output buffer from the offset to the current output position.
However, lz4_flex did not properly detect invalid and out-of-bounds offset values properly, causing it to copy uninitialized data from the output buffer.

Only the block based API functions are affected:
lz4_flex::block::{decompress_into, decompress_into_with_dict}

When safe-decode is disabled additionally these functions are affected
lz4_flex::block::{decompress, decompress_with_dict, decompress_size_prepended, decompress_size_prepended_with_dict}

All frame APIs are not affected.

There are two affected use cases:

  • decompressing LZ4 data with the unsafe implementation (safe-decode feature flag disabled, which is enabled by default):
    can leak content of uninitialized memory as decompressed result
  • decompressing LZ4 data into a reused, user-supplied output buffer (affects the safe-decode feature as well):
    can leak the previous contents of the output buffer as decompressed result

Impact

Leakage of data from uninitialized memory or content from previous decompression operations, possibly revealing sensitive information and secrets.

Mitigation

lz4_flex 0.12.1 and 0.11.6 fixes this issue without requiring changes in user code.

If you cannot upgrade, you can mitigate this vulnerability by zeroing the output buffer before calling block::decompress_into or block::decompress_into_with_dict (only block based API is affected, frame API is not affected). Additionally the the safe-decode feature flag should be enabled.

References

@PSeitz PSeitz published to PSeitz/lz4_flex Mar 14, 2026
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Mar 16, 2026
Reviewed Mar 16, 2026
Published by the National Vulnerability Database Mar 20, 2026
Last updated Mar 20, 2026

Severity

High

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v4 base metrics

Exploitability Metrics
Attack Vector Network
Attack Complexity Low
Attack Requirements Present
Privileges Required None
User interaction None
Vulnerable System Impact Metrics
Confidentiality High
Integrity None
Availability None
Subsequent System Impact Metrics
Confidentiality None
Integrity None
Availability None

CVSS v4 base metrics

Exploitability Metrics
Attack Vector: This metric reflects the context by which vulnerability exploitation is possible. This metric value (and consequently the resulting severity) will be larger the more remote (logically, and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerable system. The assumption is that the number of potential attackers for a vulnerability that could be exploited from across a network is larger than the number of potential attackers that could exploit a vulnerability requiring physical access to a device, and therefore warrants a greater severity.
Attack Complexity: This metric captures measurable actions that must be taken by the attacker to actively evade or circumvent existing built-in security-enhancing conditions in order to obtain a working exploit. These are conditions whose primary purpose is to increase security and/or increase exploit engineering complexity. A vulnerability exploitable without a target-specific variable has a lower complexity than a vulnerability that would require non-trivial customization. This metric is meant to capture security mechanisms utilized by the vulnerable system.
Attack Requirements: This metric captures the prerequisite deployment and execution conditions or variables of the vulnerable system that enable the attack. These differ from security-enhancing techniques/technologies (ref Attack Complexity) as the primary purpose of these conditions is not to explicitly mitigate attacks, but rather, emerge naturally as a consequence of the deployment and execution of the vulnerable system.
Privileges Required: This metric describes the level of privileges an attacker must possess prior to successfully exploiting the vulnerability. The method by which the attacker obtains privileged credentials prior to the attack (e.g., free trial accounts), is outside the scope of this metric. Generally, self-service provisioned accounts do not constitute a privilege requirement if the attacker can grant themselves privileges as part of the attack.
User interaction: This metric captures the requirement for a human user, other than the attacker, to participate in the successful compromise of the vulnerable system. This metric determines whether the vulnerability can be exploited solely at the will of the attacker, or whether a separate user (or user-initiated process) must participate in some manner.
Vulnerable System Impact Metrics
Confidentiality: This metric measures the impact to the confidentiality of the information managed by the VULNERABLE SYSTEM due to a successfully exploited vulnerability. Confidentiality refers to limiting information access and disclosure to only authorized users, as well as preventing access by, or disclosure to, unauthorized ones.
Integrity: This metric measures the impact to integrity of a successfully exploited vulnerability. Integrity refers to the trustworthiness and veracity of information. Integrity of the VULNERABLE SYSTEM is impacted when an attacker makes unauthorized modification of system data. Integrity is also impacted when a system user can repudiate critical actions taken in the context of the system (e.g. due to insufficient logging).
Availability: This metric measures the impact to the availability of the VULNERABLE SYSTEM resulting from a successfully exploited vulnerability. While the Confidentiality and Integrity impact metrics apply to the loss of confidentiality or integrity of data (e.g., information, files) used by the system, this metric refers to the loss of availability of the impacted system itself, such as a networked service (e.g., web, database, email). Since availability refers to the accessibility of information resources, attacks that consume network bandwidth, processor cycles, or disk space all impact the availability of a system.
Subsequent System Impact Metrics
Confidentiality: This metric measures the impact to the confidentiality of the information managed by the SUBSEQUENT SYSTEM due to a successfully exploited vulnerability. Confidentiality refers to limiting information access and disclosure to only authorized users, as well as preventing access by, or disclosure to, unauthorized ones.
Integrity: This metric measures the impact to integrity of a successfully exploited vulnerability. Integrity refers to the trustworthiness and veracity of information. Integrity of the SUBSEQUENT SYSTEM is impacted when an attacker makes unauthorized modification of system data. Integrity is also impacted when a system user can repudiate critical actions taken in the context of the system (e.g. due to insufficient logging).
Availability: This metric measures the impact to the availability of the SUBSEQUENT SYSTEM resulting from a successfully exploited vulnerability. While the Confidentiality and Integrity impact metrics apply to the loss of confidentiality or integrity of data (e.g., information, files) used by the system, this metric refers to the loss of availability of the impacted system itself, such as a networked service (e.g., web, database, email). Since availability refers to the accessibility of information resources, attacks that consume network bandwidth, processor cycles, or disk space all impact the availability of a system.
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(4th percentile)

Weaknesses

Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data

The code transmits data to another actor, but a portion of the data includes sensitive information that should not be accessible to that actor. Learn more on MITRE.

Use of Out-of-range Pointer Offset

The product performs pointer arithmetic on a valid pointer, but it uses an offset that can point outside of the intended range of valid memory locations for the resulting pointer. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2026-32829

GHSA ID

GHSA-vvp9-7p8x-rfvv

Source code

Credits

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