Ruby up to 2.2.9/2.3.6/2.4.3/2.5.0 String#unpack information disclosure

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Ruby up to 2.2.9/2.3.6/2.4.3/2.5.0. Affected by this issue is the function String#unpack. Executing a manipulation can lead to information disclosure. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2018-8778. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Ruby up to 2.2.9/2.3.6/2.4.3/2.5.0 (Programming Language Software). It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function String#unpack. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a information disclosure vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-200. The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In Ruby before 2.2.10, 2.3.x before 2.3.7, 2.4.x before 2.4.4, 2.5.x before 2.5.1, and 2.6.0-preview1, an attacker controlling the unpacking format (similar to format string vulnerabilities) can trigger a buffer under-read in the String#unpack method, resulting in a massive and controlled information disclosure.

The bug was discovered 03/28/2018. The weakness was released 04/03/2018 (Website). The advisory is available at ruby-lang.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2018-8778 since 03/19/2018. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1592 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 6 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 109284 (Debian DLA-1359-1 : ruby1.8 security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 237072 (Red Hat Update for rh-ruby25-ruby (RHSA-2018:3731)).

Upgrading to version 2.2.10, 2.3.7, 2.4.4, 2.5.1 or 2.6.0-preview1 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 3 weeks after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (109284), SecurityFocus (BID 103693†) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2023-1111). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-114428, VDB-114429, VDB-114430 and VDB-114431. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • Open Source Ruby
  • Open Source Arch Linux

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Information disclosure
CWE: CWE-200 / CWE-284 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 109284
Nessus Name: Debian DLA-1359-1 : ruby1.8 security update
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 860813
OpenVAS Name: Debian LTS Advisory ([SECURITY] [DLA 1358-1] ruby1.9.1 security update)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Ruby 2.2.10/2.3.7/2.4.4/2.5.1/2.6.0-preview1

Timelineinfo

03/19/2018 🔍
03/28/2018 +9 days 🔍
03/28/2018 +0 days 🔍
04/03/2018 +6 days 🔍
04/03/2018 +0 days 🔍
04/04/2018 +1 days 🔍
04/23/2018 +19 days 🔍
04/24/2018 +1 days 🔍
05/10/2026 +2937 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: RHSA-2018:3729
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2018-8778 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2018-8778
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-115666

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 103693 - Ruby CVE-2018-8778 Arbitrary Memory Disclosure Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1042004
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2023-1111 - Ruby: Mehrere Schwachstellen

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 04/04/2018 09:55
Updated: 05/10/2026 01:34
Changes: 04/04/2018 09:55 (77), 01/21/2020 09:06 (6), 02/08/2021 11:43 (3), 02/26/2023 14:39 (3), 05/10/2026 01:34 (21)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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