When a Constructor Became a Security Boundary

Short summary

Rust security audit reveals how constructors allowing transient invalid states—even briefly—create exploitable vulnerabilities. Invalid states should never exist; constructors must enforce all invariants before object creation, preventing impossible states from leaking into subsystems. This principle applies across all systems requiring strong invariant enforcement.

• •Transient invalid states in constructors are security vulnerabilities even if they exist momentarily
• •Invalid states can leak into subsystems, trigger assumption violations, or cause cascading failures
• •Constructors should enforce all invariants completely—invalid states must never exist

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