CVE-2023-40165 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2023-40165 involving unauthorized gem replacement on rubygems.org due to improper input validation. Find out the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-40165, where unauthorized gem replacement for full names ending in numbers on rubygems.org posed a security risk.
Understanding CVE-2023-40165
CVE-2023-40165 involves improper input validation on rubygems.org, allowing malicious actors to replace uploaded gems ending in numbers. This could lead to the replacement of legitimate uploads in the gem storage bucket.
What is CVE-2023-40165?
The vulnerability on rubygems.org allowed for the unauthorized replacement of gems matching a specific pattern, potentially impacting the integrity of uploaded gems and affecting users who downloaded these gems.
The Impact of CVE-2023-40165
While the maintainers of rubygems.org did not find unexpected malicious gems exploiting the vulnerability, users were advised to validate their downloaded gems against the checksums in the database to ensure they were not affected.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-40165
CVE-2023-40165 had a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.4 (High). The attack vector was through the network with low attack complexity, requiring user interaction but no privileges. The vulnerability affected rubygems.org versions before August 14, 2023.
Vulnerability Description
Insufficient input validation on rubygems.org allowed for the unauthorized replacement of gems ending in numbers, potentially compromising the integrity of the gem repository.
Affected Systems and Versions
Rubygems.org versions prior to August 14, 2023, were impacted by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Malicious actors could exploit the vulnerability by uploading gems ending in numbers, triggering the immediate replacement of legitimate gems.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take Users were advised to validate their downloaded gems against the checksums in the database to ensure they were not affected by the vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Maintain good security practices, validate downloaded gems, and stay informed about updates and patches to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
The issue has been patched with improved input validation on rubygems.org, and users are not required to take any additional action. However, it is recommended to validate local gems as a precaution.