Vulnerabilities > CVE-2009-4124 - Buffer Errors vulnerability in Ruby-Lang Ruby 1.9.1

047910
CVSS 10.0 - CRITICAL
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
COMPLETE
Integrity impact
COMPLETE
Availability impact
COMPLETE
network
low complexity
ruby-lang
CWE-119
critical
nessus

Summary

Heap-based buffer overflow in the rb_str_justify function in string.c in Ruby 1.9.1 before 1.9.1-p376 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors involving (1) String#ljust, (2) String#center, or (3) String#rjust. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Ruby-Lang
7

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Buffer Overflow via Environment Variables
    This attack pattern involves causing a buffer overflow through manipulation of environment variables. Once the attacker finds that they can modify an environment variable, they may try to overflow associated buffers. This attack leverages implicit trust often placed in environment variables.
  • Overflow Buffers
    Buffer Overflow attacks target improper or missing bounds checking on buffer operations, typically triggered by input injected by an attacker. As a consequence, an attacker is able to write past the boundaries of allocated buffer regions in memory, causing a program crash or potentially redirection of execution as per the attackers' choice.
  • Client-side Injection-induced Buffer Overflow
    This type of attack exploits a buffer overflow vulnerability in targeted client software through injection of malicious content from a custom-built hostile service.
  • Filter Failure through Buffer Overflow
    In this attack, the idea is to cause an active filter to fail by causing an oversized transaction. An attacker may try to feed overly long input strings to the program in an attempt to overwhelm the filter (by causing a buffer overflow) and hoping that the filter does not fail securely (i.e. the user input is let into the system unfiltered).
  • MIME Conversion
    An attacker exploits a weakness in the MIME conversion routine to cause a buffer overflow and gain control over the mail server machine. The MIME system is designed to allow various different information formats to be interpreted and sent via e-mail. Attack points exist when data are converted to MIME compatible format and back.

Nessus

  • NASL familyUbuntu Local Security Checks
    NASL idUBUNTU_USN-900-1.NASL
    descriptionEmmanouel Kellinis discovered that Ruby did not properly handle certain string operations. An attacker could exploit this issue and possibly execute arbitrary code with application privileges. (CVE-2009-4124) Giovanni Pellerano, Alessandro Tanasi, and Francesco Ongaro discovered that Ruby did not properly sanitize data written to log files. An attacker could insert specially crafted data into log files which could affect certain terminal emulators and cause arbitrary files to be overwritten, or even possibly execute arbitrary commands. (CVE-2009-4492) It was discovered that Ruby did not properly handle string arguments that represent large numbers. An attacker could exploit this and cause a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 9.10. (CVE-2009-1904). Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id44640
    published2010-02-17
    reporterUbuntu Security Notice (C) 2010-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2010-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/44640
    titleUbuntu 8.10 / 9.04 / 9.10 : ruby1.9 vulnerabilities (USN-900-1)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from Ubuntu Security Notice USN-900-1. The text 
    # itself is copyright (C) Canonical, Inc. See 
    # <http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/>. Ubuntu(R) is a registered 
    # trademark of Canonical, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(44640);
      script_version("1.16");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/09/19 12:54:26");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2009-1904", "CVE-2009-4124", "CVE-2009-4492");
      script_bugtraq_id(35278, 37710);
      script_xref(name:"USN", value:"900-1");
    
      script_name(english:"Ubuntu 8.10 / 9.04 / 9.10 : ruby1.9 vulnerabilities (USN-900-1)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for updated packages.");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:
    "The remote Ubuntu host is missing one or more security-related
    patches."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "Emmanouel Kellinis discovered that Ruby did not properly handle
    certain string operations. An attacker could exploit this issue and
    possibly execute arbitrary code with application privileges.
    (CVE-2009-4124)
    
    Giovanni Pellerano, Alessandro Tanasi, and Francesco Ongaro discovered
    that Ruby did not properly sanitize data written to log files. An
    attacker could insert specially crafted data into log files which
    could affect certain terminal emulators and cause arbitrary files to
    be overwritten, or even possibly execute arbitrary commands.
    (CVE-2009-4492)
    
    It was discovered that Ruby did not properly handle string arguments
    that represent large numbers. An attacker could exploit this and cause
    a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 9.10.
    (CVE-2009-1904).
    
    Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
    description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory. Tenable
    has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible
    without introducing additional issues."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://usn.ubuntu.com/900-1/"
      );
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Update the affected packages.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
      script_cwe_id(20, 119, 189);
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:irb1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:libdbm-ruby1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:libgdbm-ruby1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:libopenssl-ruby1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:libreadline-ruby1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:libruby1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:libruby1.9-dbg");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:libtcltk-ruby1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:rdoc1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:ri1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:ruby1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:ruby1.9-dev");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:ruby1.9-elisp");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:ruby1.9-examples");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.10");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.04");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.10");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2009/06/11");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2010/02/16");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2010/02/17");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"Ubuntu Security Notice (C) 2010-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2010-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"Ubuntu Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/Ubuntu", "Host/Ubuntu/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("ubuntu.inc");
    include("misc_func.inc");
    
    if ( ! get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled") ) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    release = get_kb_item("Host/Ubuntu/release");
    if ( isnull(release) ) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Ubuntu");
    release = chomp(release);
    if (! preg(pattern:"^(8\.10|9\.04|9\.10)$", string:release)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Ubuntu 8.10 / 9.04 / 9.10", "Ubuntu " + release);
    if ( ! get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l") ) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
    if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
    if ("x86_64" >!< cpu && cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$") audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "Ubuntu", cpu);
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"irb1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"libdbm-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"libgdbm-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"libopenssl-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"libreadline-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"libruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"libruby1.9-dbg", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"libtcltk-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"rdoc1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"ri1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"ruby1.9-dev", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"ruby1.9-elisp", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"8.10", pkgname:"ruby1.9-examples", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.3")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"irb1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"libdbm-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"libgdbm-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"libopenssl-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"libreadline-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"libruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"libruby1.9-dbg", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"libtcltk-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"rdoc1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"ri1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"ruby1.9-dev", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"ruby1.9-elisp", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.04", pkgname:"ruby1.9-examples", pkgver:"1.9.0.2-9ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"irb1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"libdbm-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"libgdbm-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"libopenssl-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"libreadline-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"libruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"libruby1.9-dbg", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"libtcltk-ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"rdoc1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"ri1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"ruby1.9", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"ruby1.9-dev", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"ruby1.9-elisp", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"9.10", pkgname:"ruby1.9-examples", pkgver:"1.9.0.5-1ubuntu1.2")) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      security_report_v4(
        port       : 0,
        severity   : SECURITY_HOLE,
        extra      : ubuntu_report_get()
      );
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = ubuntu_pkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "irb1.9 / libdbm-ruby1.9 / libgdbm-ruby1.9 / libopenssl-ruby1.9 / etc");
    }
    
  • NASL familyFreeBSD Local Security Checks
    NASL idFREEBSD_PKG_EAB8C3BDE50C11DE9CD0001A926C7637.NASL
    descriptionThe official ruby site reports : There is a heap overflow vulnerability in String#ljust, String#center and String#rjust. This has allowed an attacker to run arbitrary code in some rare cases.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id43095
    published2009-12-10
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2009-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/43095
    titleFreeBSD : ruby -- heap overflow vulnerability (eab8c3bd-e50c-11de-9cd0-001a926c7637)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from the FreeBSD VuXML database :
    #
    # Copyright 2003-2018 Jacques Vidrine and contributors
    #
    # Redistribution and use in source (VuXML) and 'compiled' forms (SGML,
    # HTML, PDF, PostScript, RTF and so forth) with or without modification,
    # are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
    # 1. Redistributions of source code (VuXML) must retain the above
    #    copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
    #    disclaimer as the first lines of this file unmodified.
    # 2. Redistributions in compiled form (transformed to other DTDs,
    #    published online in any format, converted to PDF, PostScript,
    #    RTF and other formats) must reproduce the above copyright
    #    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
    #    in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
    #    distribution.
    # 
    # THIS DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
    # AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
    # THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
    # PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS
    # BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY,
    # OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT
    # OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
    # BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
    # WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE
    # OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS DOCUMENTATION,
    # EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(43095);
      script_version("1.10");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/08/02 13:32:40");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2009-4124");
    
      script_name(english:"FreeBSD : ruby -- heap overflow vulnerability (eab8c3bd-e50c-11de-9cd0-001a926c7637)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks for updated package in pkg_info output");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote FreeBSD host is missing a security-related update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "The official ruby site reports :
    
    There is a heap overflow vulnerability in String#ljust, String#center
    and String#rjust. This has allowed an attacker to run arbitrary code
    in some rare cases."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2009/12/07/heap-overflow-in-string/"
      );
      # https://vuxml.freebsd.org/freebsd/eab8c3bd-e50c-11de-9cd0-001a926c7637.html
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?78f406b0"
      );
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Update the affected package.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_cwe_id(119);
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:freebsd:freebsd:ruby");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:freebsd:freebsd");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2009/11/30");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2009/12/09");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2009/12/10");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2009-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"FreeBSD Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/FreeBSD/release", "Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("freebsd_package.inc");
    
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "FreeBSD");
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if (pkg_test(save_report:TRUE, pkg:"ruby>=1.9.1,1<1.9.1.376,1")) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:pkg_report_get());
      else security_hole(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
    

Seebug

bulletinFamilyexploit
descriptionCVE ID:CVE-2009-4124 Ruby是一款功能强大的面向对象的脚本语言。 String#ljust, String#center和String#rjust中存在堆溢出漏洞,允许攻击者在部分条件下执行任意代码。 问题存在于string.c代码中的&quot;rb_str_justify()&quot;函数。目前没有详细漏洞细节提供。 Ruby 1.9.x Ruby 1.9.1-p376已经修复此漏洞,建议用户下载使用: ftp://ftp.ruby-lang.org/pub/ruby/1.9/ruby-1.9.1-p376.tar.bz2
idSSV:15070
last seen2017-11-19
modified2009-12-15
published2009-12-15
reporterRoot
titleRuby &quot;rb_str_justify()&quot;缓冲区溢出漏洞