CVE-2015-3226 in Ruby on Rails
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in json/encoding.rb in Active Support in Ruby on Rails 3.x and 4.1.x before 4.1.11 and 4.2.x before 4.2.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted Hash that is mishandled during JSON encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2022
The CVE-2015-3226 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ruby on Rails framework's Active Support component. This vulnerability specifically targets the json/encoding.rb file and affects multiple versions of the Rails framework including 3.x series and 4.1.x versions prior to 4.1.11, as well as 4.2.x versions before 4.2.2. The flaw arises from improper handling of crafted Hash objects during JSON encoding processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within victim browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the JSON encoding mechanism of Active Support. When Rails processes Hash objects containing specially crafted payloads during JSON serialization, the encoding routine fails to properly escape or sanitize these inputs. This misconfiguration allows attackers to inject malicious script code that gets executed when the JSON data is rendered in web browsers, particularly when the encoded data is displayed within HTML contexts. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust placed in server-side data processing, making it particularly dangerous in web applications that rely heavily on JSON APIs and data interchange.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3226 extends beyond simple data corruption or application disruption. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious websites, or execute arbitrary commands within the context of the victim's browser session. Given that Ruby on Rails is widely adopted across web applications, including many high-profile platforms and enterprise systems, the potential attack surface is extensive. The vulnerability can be particularly devastating when combined with other attack vectors, as it allows for the execution of persistent XSS payloads that can affect multiple users over extended periods. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking long-term access to target systems and user data.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of Ruby on Rails where available, specifically upgrading to Rails 4.1.11 or 4.2.2 respectively. Additionally, developers should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization practices, particularly for data that will be serialized to JSON format. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of defense against XSS attacks, though this should not replace proper application-level fixes. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on JSON encoding routines and ensure that all user-provided data undergoes proper sanitization before processing. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a common attack pattern documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the web application attack category. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability pattern.