Description
The HTTP/XMLRPC server in Ruby before 1.8.2 uses blocking sockets, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (blocked connections) via a large amount of data.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.1 | ruby1.8 | 1.8.2-7sarge4 | DSA-1157 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | irb +6 | 1.8.1-7.EL4.3 | RHSA-2006:0427 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Yukihiro Matsumoto Ruby 1.x - XMLRPC Server Denial of Service EDB-27723 · dos · Apr 21, 2006 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2006:0427 Red Hat Security Advisory: ruby security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1157 ruby1.8 Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 19772 third-party-advisory
- http://blade.nagaokaut.ac.jp/cgi-bin/scat.rb/ruby/ruby-dev/27787
- 21657 third-party-advisory
- 16904 third-party-advisory
- USN-273-1 vendor-advisory
- 20024 third-party-advisory
- 17645 vdb-entry
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11100 vdb-entry signature
- SUSE-SR:2006:012 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2006:0427 vendor-advisory
- ruby-socket-dos(26102) vdb-entry
- GLSA-200605-11 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=189540
- 1015978 vdb-entry
- DSA-1157 vendor-advisory
- 19804 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:079 vendor-advisory
- 20064 third-party-advisory
- 20457 third-party-advisory
- 24972 vdb-entry