CVE-2024-35424 identifies a segmentation violation vulnerability within the vmir tool, a utility involved in WebAssembly (WASM) parsing. The fault occurs in the import_function function located in the vmir_wasm_parser.c source file. This segmentation violation is a type of memory access error that leads to application crashes, effectively causing a denial of service (DoS). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-754, which relates to improper handling of exceptional conditions, suggesting that the code does not adequately manage unexpected or malformed input during the import function parsing phase. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector, the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact is limited to availability (A:H) with no confidentiality (C:N) or integrity (I:N) impact. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and there are no known exploits in the wild. The vulnerability was reserved in May 2024 and published in November 2024, indicating recent discovery. Given the nature of vmir as a WASM parser, this vulnerability could affect developers, security researchers, and automated systems that utilize vmir for analyzing or processing WebAssembly modules.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-35424 is denial of service caused by application crashes due to segmentation faults. This can disrupt workflows for developers and security analysts relying on vmir for WebAssembly parsing and analysis. Since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, remote exploitation is unlikely, limiting the attack surface. However, in environments where vmir is integrated into automated pipelines or used in multi-user systems, an attacker could cause service interruptions or crash analysis tools by providing crafted input. There is no direct risk to data confidentiality or integrity, but availability interruptions could delay development or security assessments. Organizations with critical WebAssembly development or security operations could experience productivity losses or temporary outages. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the lack of patches means the vulnerability remains exploitable if discovered by attackers. Overall, the impact is moderate and primarily affects availability in controlled environments.

To mitigate CVE-2024-35424, organizations should first monitor official vmir repositories and vendor communications for patches or updates addressing the segmentation violation. Until a patch is available, restrict access to vmir binaries and source code to trusted users only, minimizing exposure to untrusted input. Implement input validation or sandboxing around vmir usage to prevent processing of untrusted or malformed WebAssembly modules that could trigger the fault. Consider running vmir in isolated environments such as containers or virtual machines to contain potential crashes and avoid broader system impact. Incorporate monitoring and alerting for crashes or abnormal terminations of vmir processes to detect exploitation attempts early. For automated pipelines, add input sanitization steps and fallback mechanisms to handle vmir failures gracefully. Educate users about the need for caution when opening or importing untrusted WASM files. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and recovery plans to minimize disruption from denial of service incidents.