CVE-2018-3760 in Sprockets
Summary
by MITRE
There is an information leak vulnerability in Sprockets. Versions Affected: 4.0.0.beta7 and lower, 3.7.1 and lower, 2.12.4 and lower. Specially crafted requests can be used to access files that exists on the filesystem that is outside an application's root directory, when the Sprockets server is used in production. All users running an affected release should either upgrade or use one of the work arounds immediately.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
The CVE-2018-3760 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Sprockets asset pipeline library used in ruby web applications. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 4.0.0.beta7 and lower, 3.7.1 and lower, and 2.12.4 and lower of the Sprockets gem, creating a significant security risk for applications that utilize this asset management system in production environments. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and path traversal protection mechanisms within the Sprockets server implementation, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system's file access controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through specially crafted HTTP requests that manipulate the asset pipeline's path resolution logic. When the Sprockets server processes these malformed requests, it fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input that contains directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, enabling attackers to navigate beyond the intended application root directory. This improper validation allows unauthorized access to files that exist on the server's filesystem outside the application's designated boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, source code, database credentials, or other confidential data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. Attackers can leverage this information leak to gather intelligence about the application's structure, identify potential weaknesses in the system architecture, and discover additional vulnerabilities that may exist within the broader infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects production environments where Sprockets is configured to serve assets directly, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to critical system resources. This flaw aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-200 Information Exposure categories, demonstrating how insufficient input validation can create severe security implications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement remediation measures to protect their systems from exploitation. The primary solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the Sprockets gem that properly implements input sanitization and path validation controls. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing network-level restrictions and access controls to limit exposure, particularly when running Sprockets in production environments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper application security testing and input validation practices, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's techniques for credential access and reconnaissance activities. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential path traversal vulnerabilities within their application stacks and ensure that all file access operations implement proper validation and sanitization mechanisms to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.