SB2011082908 - Input validation error in Ruby on Rails
Published: August 29, 2011 Updated: September 29, 2025
Security Bulletin ID
SB2011082908
Severity
Medium
Patch available
YES
Number of vulnerabilities
1
Exploitation vector
Remote access
Highest impact
Information disclosure
Breakdown by Severity
- Low
- Medium
- High
- Critical
Description
This security bulletin contains information about 1 security vulnerability.
1) Input validation error (CVE-ID: CVE-2011-3187)
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to gain access to potentially sensitive information.
The vulnerability exists due to to_s method in actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/remote_ip.rb in Ruby on Rails does not validate the X-Forwarded-For header in requests from IP addresses on a Class C network. A remote attacker can pass specially crafted input to the application and gain access to potentially sensitive information.
Remediation
Install update from vendor's website.
References
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2011-02/0337.html
- http://webservsec.blogspot.com/2011/02/ruby-on-rails-vulnerability.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/17/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/19/11
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/20/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/22/13
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/22/14
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/22/5
- https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=673010