CVE-2016-2098: Actionpack Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-78rc-8c29-p45g
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CVSS 7.3
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-2098 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.3) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Actionpack libraries in the RubyGems ecosystem. The issue involves actionpack allows remote code execution via application's unrestricted use of render method. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.2.22.2, 4.1.14.2, 4.2.5.2.

CVE-2016-2098 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-2098
GHSA Identifier GHSA-78rc-8c29-p45g
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.3
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Actionpack
Package Ecosystem RubyGems
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.3

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability Low (A:L)

How to Fix CVE-2016-2098

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: 3.2.22.2 
Upgrade actionpack to 3.2.22.2
actionpack fixed: 4.1.14.2 
Upgrade actionpack to 4.1.14.2
actionpack fixed: 4.2.5.2 
Upgrade actionpack to 4.2.5.2
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-2016-2098, 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 3.2.22.2), 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. 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

Action Pack in Ruby on Rails before 3.2.22.2, 4.x before 4.1.14.2, and 4.2.x before 4.2.5.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Ruby code by leveraging an application's unrestricted use of the render method.

CVE-2016-2098 Affected Actionpack Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.2.22.24.1.14.24.2.5.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
actionpack
gem/actionpack
RubyGems
≥ 3.0.0
< 3.2.22.2
3.2.22.2
actionpack
gem/actionpack
RubyGems
≥ 4.0.0
< 4.1.14.2
4.1.14.2
actionpack
gem/actionpack
RubyGems
≥ 4.2.0
< 4.2.5.2
4.2.5.2

References

NVD — CVE-2016-2098 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2098
Actionpack Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/rails/rails
Actionpack Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/actionpack/CVE-2016-2098.yml
groups.google.com/forum/ WEB
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rubyonrails-security/ly-IH-fxr_Q
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200228015318/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/83725
web.archive.org/web/20210612214217/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20210612214217/https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=rubyonrails-security/ly-IH-fxr_Q/WLoOhcMZIAAJ
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20211205173437/https://securitytracker.com/id/1035122
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40086 WEB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40086
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00057.html
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00080.html
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00083.html
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00086.html
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00006.html
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00053.html
weblog.rubyonrails.org/2016/2/29/rails-4-2... WEB
http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2016/2/29/Rails-4-2-5-2-4-1-14-2-3-2-22-2-have-been-released
Actionpack Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3509

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-2098?
CVE-2016-2098 is a security vulnerability in Actionpack involving actionpack allows remote code execution via application's unrestricted use of render method under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Actionpack versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.2.22.2, 4.1.14.2, 4.2.5.2 across affected packages: actionpack.
What version fixes CVE-2016-2098?
Upgrading to 3.2.22.2, 4.1.14.2, 4.2.5.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is actionpack affected?
Yes, actionpack is affected in releases prior to 3.2.22.2, 4.1.14.2, 4.2.5.2. Upgrade your dependency to 3.2.22.2, 4.1.14.2, 4.2.5.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-2098?
CVE-2016-2098 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.3 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-2098?
CVE-2016-2098 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check RubyGems dependencies for CVE-2016-2098?
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-78rc-8c29-p45g",
  "modified" : "2023-07-03T18:58:43Z",
  "published" : "2017-10-24T18:33:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-2098" ],
  "summary" : "actionpack allows remote code execution via application's unrestricted use of render method",
  "details" : "Action Pack in Ruby on Rails before 3.2.22.2, 4.x before 4.1.14.2, and 4.2.x before 4.2.5.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Ruby code by leveraging an application's unrestricted use of the render method.",
  "severity" : [ {
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    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L"
  } ],
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      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
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  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rails/rails"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/actionpack/CVE-2016-2098.yml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rubyonrails-security/ly-IH-fxr_Q"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200228015318/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/83725"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20210612214217/https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=rubyonrails-security/ly-IH-fxr_Q/WLoOhcMZIAAJ"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20211205173437/https://securitytracker.com/id/1035122"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40086"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00057.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00080.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00083.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-03/msg00086.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00006.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00053.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2016/2/29/Rails-4-2-5-2-4-1-14-2-3-2-22-2-have-been-released"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3509"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:22:13Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}