CVE-2011-4319 in Ruby on Rails
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the i18n translations helper method in Ruby on Rails 3.0.x before 3.0.11 and 3.1.x before 3.1.2, and the rails_xss plugin in Ruby on Rails 2.3.x, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to a translations string whose name ends with an "html" substring.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4319 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Ruby on Rails applications across multiple versions. This issue specifically targets the internationalization translations helper method within the Rails framework, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected applications. The vulnerability manifests when translation strings contain names ending with the "html" substring, enabling attackers to bypass standard sanitization mechanisms that typically protect against XSS attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from how Rails processes translation strings that end with "html" in their naming convention. When the framework encounters such translation keys, it treats them differently during rendering, potentially allowing malicious content to be injected into web pages without proper sanitization. This flaw operates at the application logic level rather than the network protocol level, making it particularly insidious as it leverages the legitimate functionality of the internationalization system to deliver malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects versions 2.3.x through 3.1.1 of the Ruby on Rails framework, with the issue being addressed through specific patch releases that modify how translation strings are handled during output rendering.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of users' browsers who interact with affected applications. This capability allows for session hijacking, data theft, defacement of web applications, and potential escalation to more severe attacks including privilege escalation or lateral movement within affected networks. The attack vector requires minimal privileges and can be executed through user input manipulation, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely heavily on user-generated content or dynamic translation features. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4319 primarily involve upgrading to patched versions of Ruby on Rails where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved sanitization of translation strings. Organizations should immediately update their applications to Rails 3.0.11, 3.1.2, or later versions that contain the necessary security patches. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth protection, particularly for applications that cannot be immediately upgraded. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews to identify any custom translation handling code that might be vulnerable to similar patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in internationalization frameworks and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of localization features. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies as additional protective measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.