CVE-2017-17405 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2017-17405, a vulnerability in Ruby before 2.4.3 allowing command injection in the Net::FTP module. Find out how to mitigate this issue and prevent arbitrary command execution.
In versions prior to 2.4.3, Ruby had a vulnerability that allowed command injection in the Net::FTP module. Malicious FTP servers could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands.
Understanding CVE-2017-17405
What is CVE-2017-17405?
Ruby before 2.4.3 allows Net::FTP command injection. Certain methods in the Net::FTP module could be manipulated to execute arbitrary commands.
The Impact of CVE-2017-17405
This vulnerability could be exploited by a malicious FTP server to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-17405
Vulnerability Description
The methods Net::FTP#get, getbinaryfile, gettextfile, put, putbinaryfile, and puttextfile in Ruby before 2.4.3 could be abused to execute commands.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Ruby versions prior to 2.4.3
Exploitation Mechanism
- Malicious FTP servers could exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the localfile argument to execute arbitrary commands.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Ruby to version 2.4.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Avoid connecting to untrusted FTP servers.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update Ruby and other software to the latest versions.
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches provided by Ruby to address the vulnerability.