rust-memory-safety-examples 0.1.0

# Rust Memory Safety Examples

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Educational examples demonstrating memory-safe programming patterns in Rust for financial systems and critical infrastructure. This repository provides clear, documented examples of how Rust eliminates entire classes of security vulnerabilities.

## Purpose

This project demonstrates memory safety concepts for:
- Software engineers learning Rust
- Security professionals evaluating memory-safe languages
- Financial institutions considering Rust for critical systems
- Technical decision-makers assessing CISA/FBI 2024 guidance

## Alignment with Federal Guidance

These examples directly address **2024 CISA/FBI guidance** recommending memory-safe languages for critical infrastructure. Demonstrates how Rust eliminates 70% of security vulnerabilities found in C/C++ systems.

## Vulnerabilities Prevented

### 1. Buffer Overflow (CWE-120)
- **C/C++ Risk**: #1 cause of security vulnerabilities
- **Rust Solution**: Bounds checking and ownership system
- **Example**: `buffer_overflow` module

### 2. Use-After-Free (CWE-416)
- **C/C++ Risk**: Leads to arbitrary code execution
- **Rust Solution**: Ownership and lifetime tracking
- **Example**: `use_after_free` module

### 3. Data Races (CWE-362)
- **C/C++ Risk**: Undefined behavior in concurrent code
- **Rust Solution**: Send/Sync traits and type system
- **Example**: `data_race` module

### 4. Integer Overflow (CWE-190)
- **C/C++ Risk**: Silent overflow causing logic errors
- **Rust Solution**: Checked/saturating arithmetic
- **Example**: `integer_overflow` module

### 5. Null Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)
- **C/C++ Risk**: Crashes and security vulnerabilities
- **Rust Solution**: Option<T> type enforces null checking
- **Example**: `null_pointer` module

## Quick Start

```bash
# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/guardsarm/rust-memory-safety-examples
cd rust-memory-safety-examples

# Run all examples
cargo test -- --nocapture

# Run specific examples
cargo run --example buffer_overflow_prevention
cargo run --example use_after_free_prevention
cargo run --example data_race_prevention
```

## Examples

### Buffer Overflow Prevention

```rust
use rust_memory_safety_examples::buffer_overflow;

// C/C++ code (UNSAFE):
// char buffer[10];
// strcpy(buffer, "This is way too long"); // Buffer overflow!

// Rust equivalent (SAFE):
let data = vec![1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
if let Some(&value) = data.get(10) {
    println!("Value: {}", value);
} else {
    println!("Index out of bounds - safely handled!");
}
```

### Use-After-Free Prevention

```rust
use rust_memory_safety_examples::use_after_free;

// C/C++ code (UNSAFE):
// int* ptr;
// {
//     int x = 42;
//     ptr = &x;
// }
// printf("%d", *ptr); // Use-after-free!

// Rust equivalent (SAFE - won't compile):
// let ptr: &i32;
// {
//     let x = 42;
//     ptr = &x; // ERROR: `x` does not live long enough
// }
```

### Data Race Prevention

```rust
use rust_memory_safety_examples::data_race;
use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};

// Safe concurrent access
let counter = Arc::new(Mutex::new(0));
let mut handles = vec![];

for _ in 0..10 {
    let counter_clone = Arc::clone(&counter);
    let handle = std::thread::spawn(move || {
        let mut num = counter_clone.lock().unwrap();
        *num += 1;
    });
    handles.push(handle);
}

// No data races possible!
```

## Educational Value

### For Software Engineers
- Learn memory safety concepts through practical examples
- Understand ownership, borrowing, and lifetimes
- See direct comparisons between C/C++ vulnerabilities and Rust solutions

### For Security Professionals
- Understand how Rust prevents common exploitation techniques
- Evaluate memory-safe languages for security-critical systems
- Assess compliance with CISA/FBI guidance

### For Technical Managers
- Understand business value of memory safety
- Evaluate risk reduction from adopting Rust
- Make informed decisions about technology migration

## Use Cases in Financial Systems

### Banking Systems
- Prevent buffer overflows in transaction processing
- Eliminate use-after-free in session management
- Prevent data races in concurrent operations

### Payment Processors
- Safe string handling for card data
- Memory-safe cryptographic implementations
- Race-free concurrent payment processing

### Forex Trading Platforms
- Safe handling of market data feeds
- Memory-safe order processing
- Thread-safe account management

## Security Impact

### CVEs Prevented by Memory Safety

Common vulnerabilities that **cannot occur** in safe Rust:
- CVE-2014-0160 (Heartbleed) - Buffer overflow
- CVE-2017-5754 (Meltdown) - Memory safety issue
- CVE-2018-4878 (Use-after-free in browsers)
- Countless race conditions in concurrent systems

### Microsoft Security Data

Microsoft research shows:
- 70% of security vulnerabilities are memory safety issues
- Rust eliminates this entire class of vulnerabilities
- Significant reduction in security incidents

## Testing

```bash
# Run all tests
cargo test

# Run tests with output
cargo test -- --nocapture

# Run specific module tests
cargo test buffer_overflow
cargo test use_after_free
cargo test data_race
```

## Documentation

```bash
# Generate and open documentation
cargo doc --open
```

## License

MIT License - See LICENSE file

## Author

Tony Chuks Awunor
- Former FINMA-regulated forex broker operator (2008-2013)
- M.S. Computer Science (CGPA: 4.52/5.00)
- EC-Council Certified SOC Analyst (CSA)
- Specialization: Memory-safe systems programming for financial infrastructure

## Contributing

Contributions welcome! Please open an issue or pull request with:
- Additional memory safety examples
- Real-world vulnerability comparisons
- Educational improvements

## Citation

If you use these examples in educational or research contexts, please cite:

```
Awunor, T.C. (2024). Rust Memory Safety Examples: Educational Demonstrations
of Memory-Safe Programming. https://github.com/guardsarm/rust-memory-safety-examples
```

## References

- [CISA/FBI 2024 Guidance on Memory-Safe Languages](https://www.cisa.gov/)
- [Microsoft: 70% of vulnerabilities are memory safety issues](https://msrc.microsoft.com/)
- [NSA Cybersecurity Information Sheet: Software Memory Safety](https://www.nsa.gov/)
- [The Rust Programming Language Book](https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/)

## Related Projects

- [rust-secure-logger](https://github.com/guardsarm/rust-secure-logger) - Secure logging implementation
- [rust-crypto-utils](https://github.com/guardsarm/rust-crypto-utils) - Memory-safe cryptography
- [rust-transaction-validator](https://github.com/guardsarm/rust-transaction-validator) - Safe transaction processing

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**Educational. Practical. Memory-safe. Implemented in Rust.**