CVE-2019-8322 in RubyGems
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in RubyGems 2.6 and later through 3.0.2. The gem owner command outputs the contents of the API response directly to stdout. Therefore, if the response is crafted, escape sequence injection may occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8322 represents a critical security flaw in RubyGems versions 2.6 through 3.0.2 that exposes systems to potential escape sequence injection attacks. This issue specifically affects the gem owner command functionality within the RubyGems package management system, which is widely used in ruby application development and deployment environments. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output handling within the command execution flow, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject terminal escape sequences that could alter the behavior of command line interfaces.
The technical flaw manifests when the gem owner command processes API responses and directly outputs their contents to standard output without proper sanitization or encoding. This behavior creates an injection vector where an attacker can craft a malicious API response containing escape sequences that manipulate terminal display properties, potentially leading to information disclosure, command injection, or terminal manipulation attacks. The vulnerability operates at the output rendering layer rather than the input processing layer, making it particularly insidious as it leverages legitimate API communication patterns to execute malicious payloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8322 extends beyond simple terminal manipulation, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within affected environments. When exploited, this vulnerability allows for the execution of escape sequences that could redirect terminal output, modify screen display properties, or even capture user input in certain terminal configurations. The attack surface includes any system where RubyGems is installed and used, particularly affecting development environments, continuous integration systems, and deployment pipelines that rely on gem owner command functionality. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations using Ruby-based applications and those with extensive gem management workflows.
Security mitigations for CVE-2019-8322 should focus on immediate version upgrades to RubyGems 3.0.3 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper output sanitization. Organizations should implement input validation controls and ensure that all API response handling includes appropriate encoding or sanitization routines before output processing. The fix aligns with common security practices outlined in CWE-116, which addresses the proper encoding of data for output processing, and follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of RubyGems installations and implement monitoring for unusual API response patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where gem owner commands are regularly executed.