CVE-2013-4761: Puppet Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-cj43-9h3w-v976
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Advisory Summary

CVE-2013-4761 is a MODERATE remote code execution vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Puppet libraries in the RubyGems ecosystem. The issue involves puppet allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary ruby programs from the master via the resource_type service. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.23, 3.2.4.

CVE-2013-4761 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2013-4761
GHSA Identifier GHSA-cj43-9h3w-v976
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Puppet
Package Ecosystem RubyGems
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2013-4761

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

puppet fixed: 2.7.23 
Upgrade puppet to 2.7.23
puppet fixed: 3.2.4 
Upgrade puppet to 3.2.4
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 puppet

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2013-4761, inspect your project dependencies for Puppet:

inspect dependencies for puppet

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Puppet in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.7.23), 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 General Security Weakness. In Puppet, 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

Unspecified vulnerability in Puppet 2.7.x before 2.7.23 and 3.2.x before 3.2.4, and Puppet Enterprise 2.8.x before 2.8.3 and 3.0.x before 3.0.1, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Ruby programs from the master via the resource_type service. NOTE: this vulnerability can only be exploited utilizing unspecified "local file system access" to the Puppet Master.

CVE-2013-4761 Affected Puppet Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.233.2.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
puppet
gem/puppet
RubyGems
≥ 2.7.0
< 2.7.23
2.7.23
puppet
gem/puppet
RubyGems
≥ 3.2.0
< 3.2.4
3.2.4

References

NVD — CVE-2013-4761 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4761
Puppet Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet
Puppet Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/puppet/CVE-2013-4761.yml
Puppet Security Information SECURITY
https://www.puppet.com/security/cve/cve-2013-4761-resourcetype-remote-code-execution-vulnerability
Puppet Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-01/msg00009.html
Puppet Security Information SECURITY
http://puppetlabs.com/security/cve/cve-2013-4761
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-12... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1283.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-12... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1284.html
Puppet Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2013/dsa-2761

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2013-4761?
CVE-2013-4761 is a security vulnerability in Puppet involving Puppet allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Ruby programs from the master via the resource_type service under General Security Weakness.
Which Puppet versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.23, 3.2.4 across affected packages: puppet.
What version fixes CVE-2013-4761?
Upgrading to 2.7.23, 3.2.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is puppet affected?
Yes, puppet is affected in releases prior to 2.7.23, 3.2.4. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.23, 3.2.4 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2013-4761?
CVE-2013-4761 is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check RubyGems dependencies for CVE-2013-4761?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for puppet'. 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-cj43-9h3w-v976",
  "modified" : "2022-10-04T21:44:45Z",
  "published" : "2017-10-24T18:33:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2013-4761" ],
  "summary" : "Puppet allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Ruby programs from the master via the resource_type service",
  "details" : "Unspecified vulnerability in Puppet 2.7.x before 2.7.23 and 3.2.x before 3.2.4, and Puppet Enterprise 2.8.x before 2.8.3 and 3.0.x before 3.0.1, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Ruby programs from the master via the resource_type service.  NOTE: this vulnerability can only be exploited utilizing unspecified \"local file system access\" to the Puppet Master.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
      "name" : "puppet"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.7.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.7.23"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
      "name" : "puppet"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.2.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.2.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4761"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/puppet/CVE-2013-4761.yml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.puppet.com/security/cve/cve-2013-4761-resourcetype-remote-code-execution-vulnerability"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-01/msg00009.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://puppetlabs.com/security/cve/cve-2013-4761"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1283.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1284.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2013/dsa-2761"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:31:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2013-08-20T22:55:04Z"
  }
}