itertools.count use-after-free via re-entrant step.__radd__
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Description
Bug description
itertools.count has a use-after-free when the step object's __radd__ re-enters the iterator.
count_nextlong() borrows lz->long_cnt (the running total) without Py_INCREF, then calls PyNumber_Add(result, step). If step.__radd__ calls next() on the same count, the inner call moves lz->long_cnt to the new value and hands the old total's only reference back, which is then dropped and freed. The outer call still returns that freed total as a dangling pointer.
The step needs __index__ so count() accepts it as a number, and the returned value has to be used to hit the freed memory:
from itertools import count
class Step:
armed = True
def __index__(self): # so count() accepts it as a number
return 1
def __radd__(self, other):
if Step.armed:
Step.armed = False
inner = next(c) # re-enter; steals the running total's ref
f"{inner!r}" # churn the heap so the freed slot is reused
return other + 1
c = count(1 << 100, Step())
val = next(c)
val + 1 # use the returned (dangling) total
Run with PYTHONMALLOC=debug python repro.py -> SIGSEGV. With the fix it prints the correct value.
CPython versions tested on
main
Operating systems tested on
macOS
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by tracing the count_nextlong() path described in the report and run the supplied reproducer with PYTHONMALLOC=debug. Investigate the re-entrant next() call and reference lifetime around the running total; the work is done when the reproducer prints the correct value without a crash.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- c, python
- Domain
- backend
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 52/100