CVE-2012-3424: Actionpack Actionpack Improper Authentication Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-92w9-2pqw-rhjj
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CWE-287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2012-3424 is a MODERATE actionpack improper authentication vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Actionpack libraries in the RubyGems ecosystem. The issue involves actionpack improper authentication vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.0.16, 3.1.7, 3.2.7, 2.3.5.

CVE-2012-3424 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2012-3424
GHSA Identifier GHSA-92w9-2pqw-rhjj
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Actionpack
Package Ecosystem RubyGems
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2012-3424

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Actionpack dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

actionpack fixed: 3.0.16 
Upgrade actionpack to 3.0.16
actionpack fixed: 3.1.7 
Upgrade actionpack to 3.1.7
actionpack fixed: 3.2.7 
Upgrade actionpack to 3.2.7
actionpack fixed: 2.3.5 
Upgrade actionpack to 2.3.5
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for actionpack

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2012-3424, inspect your project dependencies for Actionpack:

inspect dependencies for actionpack

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Actionpack in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.0.16), 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. In Actionpack, 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

The `decode_credentials` method in `actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/http_authentication.rb` in Ruby on Rails before 3.0.16, 3.1.x before 3.1.7, and 3.2.x before 3.2.7 converts Digest Authentication strings to symbols, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by leveraging access to an application that uses a `with_http_digest` helper method, as demonstrated by the `authenticate_or_request_with_http_digest` method.

CVE-2012-3424 Affected Actionpack Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.0.163.1.73.2.72.3.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
actionpack
gem/actionpack
RubyGems
≥ 3.0.0.beta
< 3.0.16
3.0.16
actionpack
gem/actionpack
RubyGems
≥ 3.1.0
< 3.1.7
3.1.7
actionpack
gem/actionpack
RubyGems
≥ 3.2.0
< 3.2.7
3.2.7
actionpack
gem/actionpack
RubyGems
< 2.3.5
2.3.5

References

NVD — CVE-2012-3424 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3424
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/rails/rails/commit/3719bd3e95523c5518507dbe44f260f252930600
Actionpack Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/rails/rails
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
https://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-security/msg/244d32f2fa25147d?hl=en&dmode=source&output=gplain
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/20... WEB
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-08/msg00046.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-01... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0154.html
weblog.rubyonrails.org/2012/7/26/ann-rails... WEB
http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2012/7/26/ann-rails-3-2-7-has-been-released

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2012-3424?
CVE-2012-3424 is a security vulnerability in Actionpack involving actionpack Improper Authentication vulnerability under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Actionpack versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.0.16, 3.1.7, 3.2.7, 2.3.5 across affected packages: actionpack.
What version fixes CVE-2012-3424?
Upgrading to 3.0.16, 3.1.7, 3.2.7, 2.3.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is actionpack affected?
Yes, actionpack is affected in releases prior to 3.0.16, 3.1.7, 3.2.7, 2.3.5. Upgrade your dependency to 3.0.16, 3.1.7, 3.2.7, 2.3.5 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2012-3424?
CVE-2012-3424 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check RubyGems dependencies for CVE-2012-3424?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for actionpack'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-92w9-2pqw-rhjj",
  "modified" : "2025-01-22T15:09:51Z",
  "published" : "2017-10-24T18:33:38Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2012-3424" ],
  "summary" : "actionpack Improper Authentication vulnerability",
  "details" : "The `decode_credentials` method in `actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/http_authentication.rb` in Ruby on Rails before 3.0.16, 3.1.x before 3.1.7, and 3.2.x before 3.2.7 converts Digest Authentication strings to symbols, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by leveraging access to an application that uses a `with_http_digest` helper method, as demonstrated by the `authenticate_or_request_with_http_digest` method.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
      "name" : "actionpack"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.0.beta"
      }, {
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  }, {
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    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3424"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rails/rails/commit/3719bd3e95523c5518507dbe44f260f252930600"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rails/rails"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-security/msg/244d32f2fa25147d?hl=en&dmode=source&output=gplain"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-08/msg00046.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0154.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2012/7/26/ann-rails-3-2-7-has-been-released"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:27:14Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-08-08T10:26:19Z"
  }
}