Description
The rb_str_format function in Ruby 1.8.4 and earlier, 1.8.5 before 1.8.5-p231, 1.8.6 before 1.8.6-p230, 1.8.7 before 1.8.7-p22, and 1.9.0 before 1.9.0-2 allows context-dependent attackers to trigger memory corruption via unspecified vectors related to alloca, a different issue than CVE-2008-2662, CVE-2008-2663, and CVE-2008-2725. NOTE: as of 20080624, there has been inconsistent usage of multiple CVE identifiers related to Ruby. The CVE description should be regarded as authoritative, although it is likely to change.
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 4.0 | ruby1.8 | 1.8.5-4etch2 | DSA-1612-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | ruby1.9 | 1.9.0+20060609-1etch2 | DSA-1618-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | ruby +8 | 1.8.5-5.el5_2.3 | RHSA-2008:0561 |
| RHEL 4 | irb +6 | 1.8.1-7.el4_6.1 | RHSA-2008:0561 |
| RHEL 3 | irb +6 | 1.6.8-12.el3 | RHSA-2008:0562 |
| RHEL 2 | irb +5 | 1.6.4-6.el2 | RHSA-2008:0562 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Hardened Images 1 | ruby3.3 +5 | 3.3.10-23.1.hum1 | RHSA-2026:7305 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images 1 | ruby3.4 +5 | 3.4.8-31.1.hum1 | RHSA-2026:7307 |
| Red Hat Hardened Images 1 | ruby4.0 +5 | 4.0.0-33.3.hum1 | RHSA-2026:8838 |
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2026:7305 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs bug fix and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 6, 2026
- RHSA-2026:8838 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs bug fix and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 6, 2026
- RHSA-2026:7307 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs bug fix and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 6, 2026
- RHSA-2008:0561 Red Hat Security Advisory: ruby security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2008:0562 Red Hat Security Advisory: ruby security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1618-1 ruby1.9 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1612-1 ruby1.8 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- SUSE-SR:2008:017 vendor-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2163
- 31090 third-party-advisory
- http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2008/6/21/multiple-ruby-security-vulnerabilities
- MDVSA-2008:141 vendor-advisory
- 30875 third-party-advisory
- ruby-rbstrformat-code-execution(43348) vdb-entry
- ADV-2008-1981 vdb-entry
- ADV-2008-1907 vdb-entry
- DSA-1618 vendor-advisory
- 31687 third-party-advisory
- 30894 third-party-advisory
- 31062 third-party-advisory
- 31256 third-party-advisory
- 20080626 rPSA-2008-0206-1 ruby mailing-list
- http://www.matasano.com/log/1070/updates-on-drew-yaos-terrible-ruby-vulnerabilities/
- SSA:2008-179-01 vendor-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2008-06-30 vendor-advisory
- 1020347 vdb-entry
- http://www.rubyinside.com/june-2008-ruby-security-vulnerabilities-927.html
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0206
- FEDORA-2008-5649 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2008:140 vendor-advisory
- 30802 third-party-advisory
- 30831 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9646 vdb-entry signature
- RHSA-2008:0561 vendor-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2626
- DSA-1612 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200812-17 vendor-advisory
- 33178 third-party-advisory
- 29903 vdb-entry
- http://www.zedshaw.com/rants/the_big_ruby_vulnerabilities.html
- 30867 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2008:142 vendor-advisory
- http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2008/06/20/arbitrary-code-execution-vulnerabilities/
- http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/157034
- http://blog.phusion.nl/2008/06/23/ruby-186-p230187-broke-your-app-ruby-enterprise-edition-to-the-rescue/
- USN-621-1 vendor-advisory
- 31181 third-party-advisory