Summary
actionpack Improper Input Validation vulnerability
active_support/core_ext/hash/conversions.rb in Ruby on Rails before 2.3.15, 3.0.x before 3.0.19, 3.1.x before 3.1.10, and 3.2.x before 3.2.11 does not properly restrict casts of string values, which allows remote attackers to conduct object-injection attacks and execute arbitrary code, or cause a denial of service (memory and CPU consumption) involving nested XML entity references, by leveraging Action Pack support for (1) YAML type conversion or (2) Symbol type conversion.
Impact
The application does not adequately validate input before processing it, allowing unexpected values to reach sensitive code paths. Typical impact: varies by context: data corruption, logic bypass, or denial of service.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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actionpack to 2.3.15 or later; actionpack to 3.0.19 or later; actionpack to 3.1.10 or later; actionpack to 3.2.11 or later
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2013-0156? CVE-2013-0156 is a high-severity improper input validation vulnerability in actionpack (rubygems), affecting versions < 2.3.15. It is fixed in 2.3.15, 3.0.19, 3.1.10, 3.2.11. The application does not adequately validate input before processing it, allowing unexpected values to reach sensitive code paths.
- Which versions of actionpack are affected by CVE-2013-0156? actionpack (rubygems) versions < 2.3.15 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2013-0156? Yes. CVE-2013-0156 is fixed in 2.3.15, 3.0.19, 3.1.10, 3.2.11. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2013-0156 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2013-0156 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2013-0156 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2013-0156?
- Upgrade
actionpackto 2.3.15 or later - Upgrade
actionpackto 3.0.19 or later - Upgrade
actionpackto 3.1.10 or later - Upgrade
actionpackto 3.2.11 or later
- Upgrade