CVE-2026-33693 — Vulnerability in activitypub_federation — CVE Details

### Summary The `v4_is_invalid()` function in `activitypub-federation-rust` (`src/utils.rs`) does not check for `Ipv4Addr::UNSPECIFIED` (0.0.0.0). An unauthenticated attacker controlling a remote domain can point it to 0.0.0.0, bypass the SSRF protection introduced by the fix for CVE-2025-25194 (GHSA-7723-35v7-qcxw), and reach localhost services on the target server. ### Details **File:** `src/utils.rs` in `activitypub-federation-rust` **Function:** `v4_is_invalid(v4: Ipv4Addr) -> bool` The function checks `is_private()`, `is_loopback()`, `is_link_local()`, `is_multicast()`, and `is_documentation()` — but omits `is_unspecified()`. On Linux, macOS, and Windows, TCP connections to 0.0.0.0 are routed to localhost (127.0.0.1). Additionally, `::ffff:0.0.0.0` (IPv4-mapped IPv6) also bypasses because `v6_is_invalid()` calls `to_ipv4_mapped().is_some_and(v4_is_invalid)`, inheriting the same gap. Notably, `v6_is_invalid()` already includes `is_unspecified()` for native IPv6, making this an asymmetric oversight. **Independent secondary finding — DNS Rebinding TOCTOU:** `is_invalid_ip()` resolves DNS via `lookup_host()` for validation, but `reqwest` resolves DNS again for the actual connection. With TTL=0 DNS responses, an attacker can return a legitimate IP for the first resolution (passes check) and 127.0.0.1 for the second (reqwest connects to localhost). CVSS for rebinding alone: 4.8 (AC:H). ### PoC **1. Logic Proof (reproduced from source):** ```rust fn v4_is_invalid(v4: Ipv4Addr) -> bool { v4.is_private() || v4.is_loopback() || v4.is_link_local() || v4.is_multicast() || v4.is_documentation() // BUG: Missing || v4.is_unspecified() } assert_eq!(v4_is_invalid(Ipv4Addr::UNSPECIFIED), false); // 0.0.0.0 PASSES validation assert_eq!(v4_is_invalid(Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST), true); // 127.0.0.1 correctly blocked ``` **2. OS Routing Verification:** ``` $ connect(0.0.0.0:80) → ConnectionRefused ``` ConnectionRefused proves the OS routed to localhost (port 80 not listening). Any service on 0.0.0.0:PORT is reachable. **3. Attack Chain:** 1. Attacker configures DNS: `evil.com A → 0.0.0.0` 2. 2. Attacker sends ActivityPub activity referencing `https://evil.com/actor` 3. 3. Library calls `verify_url_valid()` → `is_invalid_ip()` → resolves to 0.0.0.0 4. 4. `v4_is_invalid(0.0.0.0)` returns `false` (BYPASS) 5. 5. `reqwest` connects to 0.0.0.0 → reaches localhost services ### Impact - **Direct:** Bypasses the SSRF protection layer for all ActivityPub federation traffic - - **Downstream:** 6+ dependent projects affected including Lemmy (13.7k stars), hatsu, gill, ties, fediscus, fediverse-axum - - **Attacker can:** Access cloud instance metadata (169.254.169.254 via rebinding), reach internal services on localhost, port scan internal infrastructure ### Suggested Fix ```rust fn v4_is_invalid(v4: Ipv4Addr) -> bool { v4.is_private() || v4.is_loopback() || v4.is_link_local() || v4.is_multicast() || v4.is_documentation() || v4.is_unspecified() // ADD: blocks 0.0.0.0 || v4.is_broadcast() // ADD: blocks 255.255.255.255 } ``` For DNS rebinding TOCTOU, pin the resolved IP: ```rust let resolved_ip = lookup_host((domain, 80)).await?; // validate resolved_ip... let client = reqwest::Client::builder() .resolve(domain, resolved_ip) // pin resolution .build()?; ```