CVE-2024-24576 is an OS command injection vulnerability identified in the Rust programming language's standard library prior to version 1.77.2. The issue specifically affects Windows platforms when Rust's Command API is used to spawn processes that execute batch files (.bat or .cmd). Rust's Command::arg and Command::args APIs are designed to pass arguments to spawned processes without shell evaluation, theoretically making it safe to pass untrusted input. However, Windows cmd.exe uses a unique and complex argument parsing mechanism that differs from the standard C runtime argv parsing. To accommodate this, Rust's standard library implements custom escaping logic for arguments passed to batch files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient escaping, which allows an attacker who can control the arguments to inject malicious shell commands, effectively bypassing the intended argument isolation. Due to the complexity of cmd.exe's parsing rules, a perfect escaping solution was not feasible. The Rust team improved the escaping logic to be more conservative and modified the Command API to return an InvalidInput error when it cannot safely escape arguments, preventing unsafe process spawning. This fix is included in Rust version 1.77.2. Users who require more control or handle only trusted inputs can use the CommandExt::raw_arg method to bypass escaping. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 10.0, reflecting its critical impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability without requiring privileges or user interaction. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk if they use Rust to develop Windows applications or services that invoke batch files with untrusted input. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. This is especially critical for organizations relying on automated Windows batch processing, DevOps pipelines, or legacy systems integrated with Rust components. The vulnerability's critical severity and ease of exploitation (no privileges or user interaction required) mean that any exposed Rust-based Windows service could be targeted by attackers to gain persistent footholds or move laterally within networks. Given the widespread adoption of Rust in modern software development and the prevalence of Windows in enterprise environments, the impact could be substantial if unpatched. However, the vulnerability does not affect other platforms, limiting its scope to Windows-based Rust applications.

European organizations should immediately upgrade Rust to version 1.77.2 or later to benefit from the patched escaping logic and error handling in the Command API. Developers should audit their codebases to identify any usage of the Command API invoking batch files with potentially untrusted input and refactor to ensure inputs are sanitized or controlled. Where possible, avoid invoking batch files with untrusted arguments or replace batch scripts with safer alternatives. For cases requiring custom argument handling, use the CommandExt::raw_arg method cautiously and only with trusted inputs. Implement runtime monitoring and logging for suspicious process spawning activities on Windows hosts. Security teams should also review build and deployment pipelines that use Rust on Windows to prevent injection via CI/CD processes. Finally, educate developers about the nuances of Windows command parsing and the importance of safe argument handling in Rust applications.