CVE-2014-0036 in rbovirt
Summary
by MITRE
The rbovirt gem before 0.0.24 for Ruby uses the rest-client gem with SSL verification disabled, which allows remote attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The CVE-2014-0036 vulnerability affects the rbovirt gem version 0.0.23 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of SSL communications within Ruby applications. This vulnerability specifically targets the rest-client gem dependency used by rbovirt, which disables SSL certificate verification during network transactions. The flaw creates an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to execute man-in-the-middle attacks without proper authentication or authorization, potentially compromising sensitive data and system integrity. The vulnerability exists at the transport layer security level where cryptographic protections are intentionally bypassed, making it particularly dangerous in environments where secure communications are paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the rbovirt gem's reliance on the rest-client library without properly configuring SSL verification mechanisms. When SSL verification is disabled, the application accepts any SSL certificate presented by the remote server, including those generated by malicious actors. This configuration error creates a trust relationship that can be easily exploited by attackers who position themselves between the client and server, intercepting and potentially modifying communications. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects the fundamental security protocol of secure communications, allowing attackers to establish false trust relationships with applications that should be maintaining strict cryptographic integrity. The unspecified attack vectors referenced in the CVE description suggest that the vulnerability can be exploited through various network positions and attack scenarios, making it particularly challenging to defend against.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass complete system compromise potential within affected environments. Organizations using rbovirt gem versions prior to 0.0.24 face significant risks including unauthorized access to virtualization management interfaces, potential credential theft, and unauthorized modification of virtual machine configurations. The vulnerability directly violates security best practices established by industry standards such as those outlined in CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in network communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain access to virtualization platforms, potentially leading to complete cloud infrastructure compromise. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which covers network service scanning and exploitation, as attackers can leverage the disabled SSL verification to establish persistent access points.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to rbovirt gem version 0.0.24 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as this update properly configures SSL verification within the rest-client dependency. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level controls such as firewall rules that restrict access to virtualization management interfaces, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network activity, and conducting thorough security assessments of all systems utilizing vulnerable versions. Security teams should also implement certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate and establish monitoring protocols to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining proper SSL/TLS configurations in all network communications, as highlighted in industry guidelines from NIST SP 800-52 and other cryptographic security standards that emphasize the necessity of robust certificate validation procedures. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can identify and alert on similar misconfigurations across their infrastructure.