Description
The http_basic_authenticate_with method in actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/http_authentication.rb in the Basic Authentication implementation in Action Controller in Ruby on Rails before 3.2.22.1, 4.0.x and 4.1.x before 4.1.14.1, 4.2.x before 4.2.5.1, and 5.x before 5.0.0.beta1.1 does not use a constant-time algorithm for verifying credentials, which makes it easier for remote attackers to bypass authentication by measuring timing differences.
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 14 | rails | 2:4.2.5.1-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | rails | 2:4.2.5.1-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | rails | 2:4.2.5.1-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | rails | 2:4.1.8-1+deb8u1 | DSA-3464-1 |
| Debian 7 | ruby-actionpack-3.2 | 3.2.6-6+deb7u3 | DLA-604-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 2 | rh-ror41-rubygem-actionpack +2 | 1:4.1.5-3.el6 | RHSA-2016:0296 |
| RHEL 2 | rh-ror41-rubygem-actionview +1 | 4.1.5-4.el6 | RHSA-2016:0296 |
| RHEL 2 | rh-ror41-rubygem-activemodel +1 | 4.1.5-2.el6 | RHSA-2016:0296 |
| RHEL 2 | rh-ror41-rubygem-activerecord +1 | 1:4.1.5-2.el6 | RHSA-2016:0296 |
| RHEL 2 | ror40-rubygem-actionpack +1 | 1:4.0.2-7.el6 | RHSA-2016:0454 |
| RHEL 2 | ror40-rubygem-activerecord +1 | 1:4.0.2-6.el6 | RHSA-2016:0454 |
| RHEL 2 | ror40-rubygem-activesupport | 1:4.0.2-4.el6 | RHSA-2016:0454 |
| RHEL 2 | ruby193-rubygem-actionpack +1 | 1:3.2.8-16.el6 | RHSA-2016:0455 |
| RHEL 2 | ruby193-rubygem-activerecord +1 | 1:3.2.8-11.el6 | RHSA-2016:0455 |
| RHEL 2 | ruby193-rubygem-activesupport | 1:3.2.8-6.el6 | RHSA-2016:0455 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | portus | 2.0.3-2.4 | SUSE-SU-2016:1146-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | rubygem-actionpack-3_2 | 3.2.12-0.23.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0618-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | rubygem-activesupport-3_2 | 3.2.12-0.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0968-1, SUSE-SU-2016:0623-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | rubygem-activesupport-3_2 | 3.2.12-0.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0623-1 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE WebYast 1.3 | rubygem-actionpack-3_2 | 3.2.12-0.23.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0618-1 |
| SUSE WebYast 1.3 | rubygem-activesupport-3_2 | 3.2.12-0.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0968-1, SUSE-SU-2016:0623-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite Runner 1.3 | libjansson | 2.2.1-0.9.11.6 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite Runner 1.3 | qemu-ext2 | 0.1.1-0.9.4.19 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite Runner 1.3 | rubygem-bundler19 | 1.7.0-0.13.10 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite Runner 1.3 | studio-help | 1.3.20-0.6.9 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite Runner 1.3 | susestudio | 1.3.14-52.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite 1.3 | libjansson | 2.2.1-0.9.11.6 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite 1.3 | qemu-ext2 | 0.1.1-0.9.4.19 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite 1.3 | rubygem-actionpack-3_2 | 3.2.12-0.23.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0618-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite 1.3 | rubygem-activesupport-3_2 | 3.2.12-0.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0968-1, SUSE-SU-2016:0623-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite 1.3 | rubygem-bundler19 | 1.7.0-0.13.10 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite 1.3 | studio-help | 1.3.20-0.6.9 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite 1.3 | susestudio | 1.3.14-52.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 5 | rubygem-actionpack-4_1 | 4.1.9-9.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0858-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 5 | rubygem-activesupport-4_1 | 4.1.9-12.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0857-1, SUSE-SU-2016:0600-1 |
| SUSE Lifecycle Management Server 1.3 | rubygem-actionpack-3_2 | 3.2.12-0.23.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0618-1 |
| SUSE Lifecycle Management Server 1.3 | rubygem-activesupport-3_2 | 3.2.12-0.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0968-1, SUSE-SU-2016:0623-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 2.1 | rubygem-actionpack-4_2 +1 | 4.2.2-6.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0457-1, SUSE-SU-2016:0435-1 |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RubyGems | actionpack | >= 3.1.0, < 3.2.22.1 | 3.2.22.1 | GHSA-p692-7mm3-3fxg |
| RubyGems | actionpack | >= 4.0.0, < 4.1.14.1 | 4.1.14.1 | GHSA-p692-7mm3-3fxg |
Advisories 16
- RHSA-2016:0455 Red Hat Security Advisory: ruby193 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0454 Red Hat Security Advisory: ror40 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0296 Red Hat Security Advisory: rh-ror41 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- WID-SEC-2025-1085 Ruby on Rails: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Mar 17, 2026
- DLA-604-1 ruby-actionpack-3.2 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3464-1 rails - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0475-1 Security update for susestudio SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0618-1 Security update for rubygem-actionpack-3_2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0600-1 Security update for rubygem-activesupport-4_1 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0857-1 Security update for rubygem-activesupport-4_1 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0858-1 Security update for rubygem-actionpack-4_1 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0968-1 Security update for rubygem-activesupport-3_2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1146-1 Security update for portus SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0435-1 Security update for rubygem-activesupport-4_2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0623-1 Security update for rubygem-activesupport-3_2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0457-1 Security update for rubygem-actionpack-4_2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20160125 [CVE-2015-7576] Timing attack vulnerability in basic authentication in Action Controller. mailing-list
- FEDORA-2016-3ede04cd79 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2016:0372 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2016:0363 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2016-94e71ee673 vendor-advisory
- 81803 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2016-f486068393 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1146 vendor-advisory
- 1034816 vdb-entry
- DSA-3464 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:0296 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2016-cb30088b06 vendor-advisory
- [ruby-security-ann] 20160125 [CVE-2015-7576] Timing attack vulnerability in basic authentication in Action Controller. mailing-list