CVE-2011-0447 in Ruby on Rails
Summary
by MITRE
Ruby on Rails 2.1.x, 2.2.x, and 2.3.x before 2.3.11, and 3.x before 3.0.4, does not properly validate HTTP requests that contain an X-Requested-With header, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks via forged (1) AJAX or (2) API requests that leverage "combinations of browser plugins and HTTP redirects," a related issue to CVE-2011-0696.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0447 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness in Ruby on Rails web applications across multiple versions. This flaw specifically affects Rails 2.1.x through 2.3.x versions prior to 2.3.11 and 3.x versions prior to 3.0.4, creating a significant security gap that adversaries could exploit to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability stems from the framework's insufficient validation of HTTP requests containing the X-Requested-With header, which is commonly used by AJAX applications to distinguish between regular and asynchronous requests.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in Rails' improper handling of the X-Requested-With header during request validation processes. When an application receives an HTTP request with this header, the framework should verify that the request originates from a legitimate source and is not part of a malicious CSRF attack. However, the vulnerable versions failed to implement proper validation checks, allowing attackers to craft forged requests that appear to be legitimate AJAX or API calls. This weakness specifically impacts the framework's ability to differentiate between trusted and untrusted requests, particularly when combined with browser plugin behaviors and HTTP redirect mechanisms that create complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond traditional CSRF scenarios, as it enables attackers to exploit the combination of browser plugins and HTTP redirects to bypass security controls that would normally prevent cross-site request forgery. This creates a particularly dangerous situation where legitimate browser behaviors can be leveraged to carry out attacks that would otherwise be blocked by standard security measures. The vulnerability affects both AJAX-based and API requests, making it applicable to a broad range of web applications that rely on these communication patterns. Attackers can potentially perform actions such as modifying user data, executing unauthorized transactions, or accessing sensitive information without proper authentication.
The security implications of CVE-2011-0447 align with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and relate to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial access phase of attacks. Organizations running affected Rails versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data manipulation, particularly in applications that handle sensitive user information or financial transactions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly attractive to threat actors. This weakness demonstrates how seemingly minor validation issues in web frameworks can create substantial security risks when combined with browser behavior characteristics and network routing patterns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrade to patched versions of Ruby on Rails, specifically Rails 2.3.11 and 3.0.4 or later. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as CSRF tokens in all forms and requests, regardless of header presence, and ensure proper request validation at the application level. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and additional HTTP security headers can provide defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and dependency updates should be part of ongoing security practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in web applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing that considers not just individual components but also how different browser behaviors and HTTP mechanisms interact with application frameworks.