CVE-2008-4094 in Ruby on Rails
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Ruby on Rails before 2.1.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) :limit and (2) :offset parameters, related to ActiveRecord, ActiveSupport, ActiveResource, ActionPack, and ActionMailer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4094 represents a critical security flaw in Ruby on Rails frameworks prior to version 2.1.1, specifically affecting multiple core components including ActiveRecord, ActiveSupport, ActiveResource, ActionPack, and ActionMailer. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the framework's query construction processes, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through carefully crafted parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of :limit and :offset parameters that are commonly used in database query operations. When these parameters are not properly sanitized or validated, attackers can inject malicious SQL fragments that get concatenated into the final database query string. The flaw exists because the framework's parameter handling logic fails to adequately escape or encode special characters that have meaning in SQL contexts, allowing attackers to terminate existing SQL statements and introduce their own commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables remote code execution capabilities that can result in complete database compromise. Attackers can leverage these SQL injection vectors to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, delete information, or even escalate privileges within the database system. The vulnerability affects the entire Rails ecosystem since the affected components are fundamental to how the framework handles database interactions and parameter processing. This creates a widespread risk across applications built on Ruby on Rails, particularly those handling user input through pagination or query limit parameters.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 SQL Injection, which is categorized under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a fundamental flaw in input validation and output encoding. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS, and more specifically T1046 Network Service Scanning, as attackers would typically probe for vulnerable applications before exploiting these injection points. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can be automated, making it attractive for mass exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4094 primarily focus on upgrading to Ruby on Rails version 2.1.1 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved parameter sanitization and query building mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at all application layers, employ prepared statements or parameterized queries, and establish robust database access controls. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments, implement web application firewalls, and maintain up-to-date security monitoring systems to detect and respond to exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in the patched versions demonstrates the importance of proper parameter handling and input sanitization in preventing SQL injection attacks across all framework components.