Use-after-poison in parser_yylex in ruby

ruby Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

02/09/2023
HIGH
No i
High
Not published

OSV-2023-783: Use-after-poison in parser_yylex. Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

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Background

Ruby is a popular dynamic, object-oriented programming language known for its simplicity and flexibility. It is widely used for web development, scripting, and automation tasks. The vulnerability in question affects the parser_yylex function in the Ruby interpreter. This function is responsible for lexical analysis, which involves tokenizing the input source code. The use-after-poison vulnerability occurs when the interpreter attempts to read from a memory location that has been freed or corrupted. This can lead to various issues, including crashes, memory leaks, and potentially, remote code execution.

Vulnerability Detail

The use-after-poison vulnerability in parser_yylex has been identified and reported through the OSS-Fuzz project. When triggered, the vulnerability manifests as a use-after-poison read of 8 bytes. The crash state indicates that the issue occurs during the parsing and compilation process of Ruby code. This vulnerability has been assigned a high severity level due to its potential impact on the stability and security of Ruby applications.

How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

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Workaround

At the moment, there is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is advised to follow the recommended steps for fixing the issue by updating to a patched version of Ruby when it becomes available.

Conclusion

The use-after-poison vulnerability in parser_yylex in Ruby can have severe consequences for the stability and security of Ruby applications. It is crucial to stay updated with the latest patches and security advisories from the Ruby development team. For further assistance and support in addressing this vulnerability, please contact DevNack.com.

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FAQ

The use-after-poison vulnerability in parser_yylex can lead to crashes, memory leaks, and potentially, remote code execution. It poses a significant risk to the stability and security of Ruby applications.

You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Simply upload your manifest file, such as package-lock.json, and Vulert will analyze it in real-time to identify any open-source vulnerabilities, including this one.

Currently, there is no known temporary fix for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to a patched version of Ruby as soon as it becomes available.

You can find updates and patches for Ruby on the official Ruby website or through your distribution's security advisories. It is important to regularly check for updates and apply them promptly.

This vulnerability was discovered and reported through the OSS-Fuzz project, which focuses on fuzzing and identifying vulnerabilities in open-source software. The specific details and technical information can be found in the OSS-Fuzz issue tracker.

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How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

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