Denial-of-Service Vulnerability in ruby-bindata Package
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2021-32823: In the bindata RubyGem before version 2.4.10 there is a potential denial-of-service vulnerability. Affects ruby-bindata versions 2.3.5-1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The ruby-bindata package is a RubyGem that provides a way to define binary data structures in Ruby. It allows developers to easily create and manipulate binary data formats. However, certain versions of this package are vulnerable to a denial-of-service (DoS) attack due to inefficient handling of specific classes, which can lead to performance degradation.
Vulnerability Detail
In the bindata RubyGem before version 2.4.10, there exists a potential denial-of-service vulnerability. This issue arises from the slow creation of certain classes in BinData, such as BinData::Bit100000 and BinData::Bit<N>. When combined with user input that triggers the constantization of these classes, it can result in excessive CPU usage, effectively causing a DoS. The vulnerability is identified as CVE-2021-32823 and has a CVSS score of 3.7, indicating a medium severity level.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid using the vulnerable classes in your application until you can update to a patched version. If you must use them, consider implementing input validation to prevent excessive CPU usage.
Conclusion
The ruby-bindata package has a significant vulnerability that can lead to denial-of-service attacks. It is crucial for developers to update to the latest version to ensure their applications remain secure. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
CVE-2021-32823 is a vulnerability in the ruby-bindata package that can lead to a denial-of-service attack due to inefficient class creation.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
The vulnerability can lead to high CPU usage, causing applications to slow down or become unresponsive, which can affect user experience.
Yes, the patch is available in version 2.4.10 and later of the ruby-bindata package.
If you cannot update immediately, avoid using the vulnerable classes and implement input validation to mitigate the risk of a DoS attack.
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