CVE-2013-1856

activesupport Improper Input Validation vulnerability

The ActiveSupport::XmlMini_JDOM backend in lib/active_support/xml_mini/jdom.rb in the Active Support component in Ruby on Rails 3.0.x and 3.1.x before 3.1.12 and 3.2.x before 3.2.13, when JRuby is used, does not properly restrict the capabilities of the XML parser, which allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files or cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via vectors involving (1) an external DTD or (2) an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference.

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.

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1. What is CVE-2013-1856? CVE-2013-1856 is a medium-severity improper input validation vulnerability in activesupport (rubygems), affecting versions >= 3.0.0, < 3.1.12. It is fixed in 3.1.12, 3.2.13. The application does not adequately validate input before processing it, allowing unexpected values to reach sensitive code paths.
2. Which versions of activesupport are affected by CVE-2013-1856? activesupport (rubygems) versions >= 3.0.0, < 3.1.12 is affected.
3. Is there a fix for CVE-2013-1856? Yes. CVE-2013-1856 is fixed in 3.1.12, 3.2.13. Upgrade to this version or later.
4. Is CVE-2013-1856 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2013-1856 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
5. What actually determines whether CVE-2013-1856 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.
6. How do I fix CVE-2013-1856?
   • Upgrade activesupport to 3.1.12 or later
   • Upgrade activesupport to 3.2.13 or later

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