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Final draft, change the release date

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Bradlee Speice 2019-02-18 10:16:33 -05:00
parent 0f3e8f9d28
commit 8826f387d9
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_posts/2019-02-14-insane-allocators.md → _posts/2019-02-18-insane-allocators.md
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@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ break them. See, Rust will go so far as to claim:
it's correct. There's ongoing work to [formalize](https://plv.mpi-sws.org/rustbelt/popl18/) it's correct. There's ongoing work to [formalize](https://plv.mpi-sws.org/rustbelt/popl18/)
the rules and *prove* that Rust is safe, but for our purposes it's a reasonable assumption. the rules and *prove* that Rust is safe, but for our purposes it's a reasonable assumption.
Until it isn't. It's totally possible for "safe" Rust programs Until it isn't. Under specific circumstances, it's totally possible for "safe"
(under contrived circumstances) to encounter memory corruption and trigger a Rust programs to encounter memory corruption and trigger a
["segfault"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segmentation_fault). ["segfault"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segmentation_fault).
To prove it, this demonstration was run using an unmodified compiler: To prove it, this demonstration was run using an unmodified compiler:
@ -79,17 +79,17 @@ and crash too? The answer is that `sudo` deletes environment variables
like `LD_PRELOAD` and `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` when running commands. like `LD_PRELOAD` and `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` when running commands.
It's technically possible to crash `sudo` in the same way using It's technically possible to crash `sudo` in the same way using
our evil `malloc` implementation, but the default security policy our evil `malloc` implementation, but the default security policy
deletes those variables. deletes the variables we need.
Finally, why does the program run when compiled with Rust 1.31, and not 1.32? Finally, why does the program run when compiled with Rust 1.31, and not 1.32?
The answer is in the release notes: The answer is in the release notes:
[`jemalloc` is removed by default](https://blog.rust-lang.org/2019/01/17/Rust-1.32.0.html#jemalloc-is-removed-by-default). [`jemalloc` is removed by default](https://blog.rust-lang.org/2019/01/17/Rust-1.32.0.html#jemalloc-is-removed-by-default).
In Rust 1.28 through 1.31, programs are statically compiled against In all versions of Rust through 1.31, executables are statically compiled against
[jemalloc](http://jemalloc.net/) by default; our dynamically loaded [jemalloc](http://jemalloc.net/) by default; our dynamically loaded
evil `malloc` implementation never gets an opportunity to run. However, it's still evil `malloc` implementation never gets an opportunity to run. It's still
possible to trigger segfaults in Rust programs from 1.28 - 1.31 by using the possible to trigger segfaults in Rust binaries from 1.28 to 1.31 by using the
[`System`](https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/alloc/struct.System.html) [`System`](https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/alloc/struct.System.html)
global allocator. Rust programs prior to 1.28 aren't affected by this global allocator, but programs prior to 1.28 aren't affected by this
`LD_PRELOAD` trick. `LD_PRELOAD` trick.
# So what? # So what?
@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ But this example does highlight an assumption of Rust's memory model
that I haven't seen discussed much: **safe Rust is safe if, and only if, that I haven't seen discussed much: **safe Rust is safe if, and only if,
the allocator it relies on is "correct"**. And because writing an allocator is the allocator it relies on is "correct"**. And because writing an allocator is
[fundamentally unsafe](https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/alloc/trait.GlobalAlloc.html#unsafety), [fundamentally unsafe](https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/alloc/trait.GlobalAlloc.html#unsafety),
safe Rust will always rely on unsafe Rust somewhere. Rust's promises will always rely on some amount of "unsafe" code.
That all said, know that "safe" Rust can claim to be safe because it stands That all said, know that "safe" Rust can claim to be so only because it stands
on the shoulders of incredible developers working on jemalloc, on the shoulders of incredible libraries like jemalloc,
[kmalloc](https://linux-kernel-labs.github.io/master/labs/kernel_api.html#memory-allocation), [kmalloc](https://linux-kernel-labs.github.io/master/labs/kernel_api.html#memory-allocation),
and others. Without being able to trust the allocators, we wouldn't and others. Without being able to trust the allocators, we'd have no reason
be able to trust the promise of safe Rust. So to all the people to trust the safety guarantees made by Rust. So to all the people
who make the safety promises of Rust possible - thanks. who make safe Rust possible - thanks.