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doc/decompressor_accepted_invalid_data.md

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-Decompressor Accepted Invalid Data
-==================================
-
-This document describes the behavior of the reference decompressor in cases
-where it accepts an invalid frame instead of reporting an error.
-
-Zero offsets converted to 1
----------------------------
-If a sequence is decoded with `literals_length = 0` and `offset_value = 3`
-while `Repeated_Offset_1 = 1`, the computed offset will be `0`, which is
-invalid.
-
-The reference decompressor will process this case as if the computed
-offset was `1`, including inserting `1` into the repeated offset list.

doc/decompressor_permissive.md

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+Decompressor Permissiveness to Invalid Data
+===========================================
+
+This document describes the behavior of the reference decompressor in cases
+where it accepts formally invalid data instead of reporting an error.
+
+While the reference decompressor *must* decode any compliant frame following
+the specification, its ability to detect erroneous data is on a best effort
+basis: the decoder may accept input data that would be formally invalid,
+when it causes no risk to the decoder, and which detection would cost too much
+complexity or speed regression.
+
+In practice, the vast majority of invalid data are detected, if only because
+many corruption events are dangerous for the decoder process (such as
+requesting an out-of-bound memory access) and many more are easy to check.
+
+This document lists a few known cases where invalid data was formerly accepted
+by the decoder, and what has changed since.
+
+
+Offset == 0
+-----------
+
+**Last affected version**: v1.5.5
+
+**Produced by the reference compressor**: No
+
+**Example Frame**: `28b5 2ffd 2000 1500 0000 00`
+
+If a sequence is decoded with `literals_length = 0` and `offset_value = 3`
+while `Repeated_Offset_1 = 1`, the computed offset will be `0`, which is
+invalid.
+
+The reference decompressor up to v1.5.5 processes this case as if the computed
+offset was `1`, including inserting `1` into the repeated offset list.
+This prevents the output buffer from remaining uninitialized, thus denying a
+potential attack vector from an untrusted source.
+However, in the rare case where this scenario would be the outcome of a
+transmission or storage error, the decoder relies on the checksum to detect
+the error.
+
+In newer versions, this case is always detected and reported as a corruption error.
+
+
+Non-zeroes reserved bits
+------------------------
+
+**Last affected version**: v1.5.5
+
+**Produced by the reference compressor**: No
+
+**Example Frame**: `28b5 2ffd 2000 1500 0000 00`
+
+The Sequences section of each block has a header, and one of its elements is a
+byte, which describes the compression mode of each symbol.
+This byte contains 2 reserved bits which must be set to zero.
+
+The reference decompressor up to v1.5.5 just ignores these 2 bits.
+This behavior has no consequence for the rest of the frame decoding process.
+
+In newer versions, the 2 reserved bits are actively checked for value zero,
+and the decoder reports a corruption error if they are not.