CVE-2022-28739 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2022
There is a buffer over-read in Ruby before 2.6.10, 2.7.x before 2.7.6, 3.x before 3.0.4, and 3.1.x before 3.1.2. It occurs in String-to-Float conversion, including Kernel#Float and String#to_f.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer over-read flaw affecting multiple versions of the ruby programming language ecosystem. The issue manifests during string-to-float conversion operations, specifically when processing numeric strings through kernel methods such as Kernel#Float and String#to_f. The vulnerability exists across ruby versions 2.6.10 and earlier, 2.7.6 and earlier, 3.0.4 and earlier, and 3.1.2 and earlier, creating a widespread impact across the ruby runtime environment. The root cause lies in improper bounds checking during the conversion process, where the parser reads beyond allocated memory boundaries when handling specific string inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within ruby's internal string parsing routines. When ruby processes numeric strings for conversion to floating point values, it fails to properly validate the length of input data against allocated buffer space. This allows maliciously crafted input strings to trigger memory access violations that can result in arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core conversion layer of the ruby interpreter, affecting fundamental operations that are extensively used throughout applications. Attackers can exploit this by providing specially crafted numeric strings that cause the parser to read beyond the intended memory boundaries, potentially leading to information disclosure or remote code execution depending on the target environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28739 extends beyond simple application crashes, representing a significant security risk for ruby-based web applications and systems. Any application that processes user input through string-to-float conversion operations becomes vulnerable to exploitation, particularly those handling financial data, user credentials, or other sensitive numeric information. The vulnerability's presence in ruby's core conversion functions means that even well-structured applications using ruby's standard libraries can be compromised. This creates a substantial risk for web applications, api endpoints, and server-side processing systems that rely on ruby's built-in type conversion mechanisms. The exploitation potential increases when applications fail to sanitize inputs before conversion, as attackers can craft malicious input strings that trigger the buffer over-read condition.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to patched ruby releases. Organizations should prioritize updating to ruby versions 2.6.10, 2.7.6, 3.0.4, and 3.1.2 respectively, which contain the necessary code modifications to prevent buffer over-read conditions during string-to-float conversions. Additionally, input validation should be implemented at application boundaries to sanitize all numeric string inputs before processing, creating an additional layer of protection. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime monitoring to detect anomalous string processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and may map to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under software exploitation categories. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all ruby applications and services that might be affected, particularly those handling untrusted input through numeric conversion operations.