CVE-2024-35410 is a heap overflow vulnerability identified in the wac project, specifically within the interpret function located in the /wac-asan/wa.c source file. The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of memory during the interpretation of WebAssembly (wasm) files, leading to a heap overflow condition (CWE-120). An attacker can exploit this by crafting a malicious wasm file that, when processed by the vulnerable interpret function, causes memory corruption resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS) condition. The flaw does not allow for code execution or data leakage but can crash the application or service relying on wac, impacting availability. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the system to supply the malicious wasm file. No privileges are required (PR:N), and no user interaction is necessary (UI:N), which simplifies exploitation in environments where local access is possible. The vulnerability was published on November 8, 2024, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.2, reflecting a medium severity. No patches or fixes have been publicly linked yet, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments that use wac for wasm interpretation, such as development tools, testing environments, or embedded systems that process wasm files. The heap overflow could lead to application crashes, service interruptions, or potential cascading failures in dependent systems.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-35410 is a Denial of Service (DoS) caused by application crashes due to heap overflow. Organizations relying on wac for wasm interpretation may experience service disruptions, affecting availability and potentially causing downtime in development or production environments. While confidentiality and integrity are not directly impacted, the availability loss can hinder operations, especially in automated pipelines or embedded systems that depend on wasm execution. The local attack vector limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or compromised local accounts could leverage this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity score indicates that exploitation could disrupt critical workflows. Organizations with heavy reliance on wasm technologies or wac-based tools may face operational risks, including degraded service quality and increased incident response costs.

To mitigate CVE-2024-35410, organizations should first monitor official wac project channels for patches or updates and apply them promptly once available. Until a patch is released, restrict the processing of wasm files to trusted sources only, employing strict validation and sandboxing techniques to limit exposure. Implement runtime memory safety tools such as AddressSanitizer or similar to detect and prevent heap overflows during development and testing. Limit local access to systems running wac interpreters to trusted users and enforce strong access controls and monitoring to detect suspicious activity. Consider isolating wasm processing environments using containerization or virtual machines to contain potential crashes. Regularly audit wasm file inputs and logs for anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts. Finally, incorporate this vulnerability into incident response plans to ensure rapid detection and remediation if exploitation occurs.