CVE-2011-2930 in Ruby on Rails
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the quote_table_name method in the ActiveRecord adapters in activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/ in Ruby on Rails before 2.3.13, 3.0.x before 3.0.10, and 3.1.x before 3.1.0.rc5 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via a crafted column name.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2025
The CVE-2011-2930 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Ruby on Rails framework that specifically targets the quote_table_name method in ActiveRecord adapters. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Rails framework including 2.3.x series before 2.3.13, 3.0.x series before 3.0.10, and 3.1.x series before 3.1.0.rc5. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization within the database abstraction layer, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through carefully crafted column names. The vulnerability operates at the core of Rails' database interaction mechanisms, where the framework's ActiveRecord components handle database queries and connection management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in how the quote_table_name method processes column names without proper escaping or validation of user-supplied input. When developers pass column names that are derived from user input or external sources, the method fails to adequately sanitize these values before incorporating them into SQL query construction. This creates a classic SQL injection vector where attackers can manipulate the query structure by injecting malicious SQL fragments through specially crafted column names. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at a low level within the framework's database abstraction layer, making it difficult to detect and exploit through conventional security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2930 is severe and far-reaching, potentially allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on affected systems. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, unauthorized data modification, and in severe cases, full system compromise. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive information from databases, modify or delete critical data, and potentially establish persistent access to affected applications. The vulnerability affects any Ruby on Rails application that utilizes user-supplied column names or allows external input to influence database query construction, making it a widespread concern across the Rails ecosystem.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Ruby on Rails, specifically versions 2.3.13, 3.0.10, and 3.1.0.rc5 or later. Additionally, developers should implement proper input validation and sanitization practices, avoid using user-supplied data directly in database queries, and employ parameterized queries or prepared statements wherever possible. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a technique commonly catalogued in ATT&CK framework under the database access and data extraction phases of attack chains. Organizations should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify any custom implementations that might be vulnerable to similar injection patterns and ensure all database interactions follow secure coding practices.