Vulnerability Details : CVE-2021-43809
`Bundler` is a package for managing application dependencies in Ruby. In `bundler` versions before 2.2.33, when working with untrusted and apparently harmless `Gemfile`'s, it is not expected that they lead to execution of external code, unless that's explicit in the ruby code inside the `Gemfile` itself. However, if the `Gemfile` includes `gem` entries that use the `git` option with invalid, but seemingly harmless, values with a leading dash, this can be false. To handle dependencies that come from a Git repository instead of a registry, Bundler uses various commands, such as `git clone`. These commands are being constructed using user input (e.g. the repository URL). When building the commands, Bundler versions before 2.2.33 correctly avoid Command Injection vulnerabilities by passing an array of arguments instead of a command string. However, there is the possibility that a user input starts with a dash (`-`) and is therefore treated as an optional argument instead of a positional one. This can lead to Code Execution because some of the commands have options that can be leveraged to run arbitrary executables. Since this value comes from the `Gemfile` file, it can contain any character, including a leading dash.
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker has to craft a directory containing a `Gemfile` file that declares a dependency that is located in a Git repository. This dependency has to have a Git URL in the form of `-u./payload`. This URL will be used to construct a Git clone command but will be interpreted as the upload-pack argument. Then this directory needs to be shared with the victim, who then needs to run a command that evaluates the Gemfile, such as `bundle lock`, inside.
This vulnerability can lead to Arbitrary Code Execution, which could potentially lead to the takeover of the system. However, the exploitability is very low, because it requires a lot of user interaction. Bundler 2.2.33 has patched this problem by inserting `--` as an argument before any positional arguments to those Git commands that were affected by this issue. Regardless of whether users can upgrade or not, they should review any untrustred `Gemfile`'s before running any `bundler` commands that may read them, since they can contain arbitrary ruby code.
Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2021-43809
Probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days: 0.10%
Percentile, the proportion of vulnerabilities that are scored at or less: ~ 41 % EPSS Score History EPSS FAQ
CVSS scores for CVE-2021-43809
Base Score | Base Severity | CVSS Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
9.3
|
HIGH | AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C |
8.6
|
10.0
|
nvd@nist.gov |
7.3
|
HIGH | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
1.3
|
5.9
|
nvd@nist.gov |
6.7
|
MEDIUM | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
0.8
|
5.9
|
security-advisories@github.com |
CWE ids for CVE-2021-43809
-
The product constructs a string for a command to be executed by a separate component in another control sphere, but it does not properly delimit the intended arguments, options, or switches within that command string.Assigned by:
- nvd@nist.gov (Primary)
- security-advisories@github.com (Secondary)
References for CVE-2021-43809
-
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/security/advisories/GHSA-fj7f-vq84-fh43
Local Code Execution through Argument Injection via dash leading git url parameter in Gemfile · Advisory · rubygems/rubygems · GitHubExploit;Vendor Advisory
-
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/commit/a4f2f8ac17e6ce81c689527a8b6f14381060d95f
Add require parameter to `bundle add`` · rubygems/rubygems@a4f2f8a · GitHubPatch
-
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/pull/5142
Pass "--" to git commands to separate positional and optional args by deivid-rodriguez · Pull Request #5142 · rubygems/rubygems · GitHubPatch
-
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/commit/0fad1ccfe9dd7a3c5b82c1496df3c2b4842870d3
Changelog for Bundler version 2.2.33 · rubygems/rubygems@0fad1cc · GitHubPatch
-
https://www.sonarsource.com/blog/securing-developer-tools-package-managers/
Securing Developer Tools: Package Managers | SonarExploit;Mitigation
Products affected by CVE-2021-43809
- cpe:2.3:a:bundler:bundler:*:*:*:*:*:ruby:*:*