CVE-2022-32224: Activerecord Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CRITICALCVE-2022-32224 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Activerecord libraries in the RubyGems ecosystem. The issue involves active record rce bug with serialized columns. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 7.0.3.1, 6.1.6.1, 6.0.5.1, 5.2.8.1.
CVE-2022-32224 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 9.8
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
How to Fix CVE-2022-32224
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Activerecord dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
Upgrade activerecord to 7.0.3.1Upgrade activerecord to 6.1.6.1Upgrade activerecord to 6.0.5.1Upgrade activerecord to 5.2.8.1Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
inspect dependencies for activerecordHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2022-32224, inspect your project dependencies for Activerecord:
inspect dependencies for activerecordAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Activerecord in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 7.0.3.1), your application is affected.
Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Activerecord, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2022-32224 Affected Activerecord Versions
4 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
activerecord
|
RubyGems |
≥ 7.0.0
< 7.0.3.1
|
7.0.3.1
|
|
activerecord
|
RubyGems |
≥ 6.1.0
< 6.1.6.1
|
6.1.6.1
|
|
activerecord
|
RubyGems |
≥ 6.0.0
< 6.0.5.1
|
6.0.5.1
|
|
activerecord
|
RubyGems |
< 5.2.8.1
|
5.2.8.1
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2022-32224?
Which Activerecord versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2022-32224?
Is activerecord affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-32224?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-32224?
How can I check RubyGems dependencies for CVE-2022-32224?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-3hhc-qp5v-9p2j",
"modified" : "2026-05-11T18:31:33Z",
"published" : "2022-07-12T19:39:47Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-32224" ],
"summary" : "Active Record RCE bug with Serialized Columns",
"details" : "When serialized columns that use YAML (the default) are deserialized, Rails uses YAML.unsafe_load to convert the YAML data in to Ruby objects. If an attacker can manipulate data in the database (via means like SQL injection), then it may be possible for the attacker to escalate to an RCE.\n\nThere are no feasible workarounds for this issue, but other coders (such as JSON) are not impacted.",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
"name" : "activerecord"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "7.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "7.0.3.1"
} ]
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 7.0.3"
}
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
"name" : "activerecord"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "6.1.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "6.1.6.1"
} ]
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 6.1.6"
}
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
"name" : "activerecord"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "6.0.0"
}, {
"fixed" : "6.0.5.1"
} ]
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 6.0.5"
}
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
"name" : "activerecord"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "5.2.8.1"
} ]
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 5.2.8"
}
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-32224"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/rails/rails/commit/611990f1a6c137c2d56b1ba06b27e5d2434dcd6a"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://discuss.rubyonrails.org/t/cve-2022-32224-possible-rce-escalation-bug-with-serialized-columns-in-active-record/81017"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-3hhc-qp5v-9p2j"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/rails/rails/commits/main/activerecord"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/activerecord/CVE-2022-32224.yml"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://groups.google.com/g/rubyonrails-security/c/MmFO3LYQE8U"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2026/05/msg00022.html"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
"severity" : "CRITICAL",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-12T19:39:47Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2022-12-05T22:15:00Z"
}
}