The FileUtils.remove_entry_secure method in Ruby 1.8.6 through 1.8.6-420, 1.8.7 through 1.8.7-330, 1.8.8dev, 1.9.1 through 1.9.1-430, 1.9.2
The FileUtils.remove_entry_secure method in Ruby 1.8.6 through 1.8.6-420, 1.8.7 through 1.8.7-330, 1.8.8dev, 1.9.1 through 1.9.1-430, 1.9.2 through 1.9.2-136, and 1.9.3dev allows local users to delete arbitrary files via a symlink attack.
- Published
- Mar 2, 2011
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.4% · 30th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-59
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Report tools
Action score
25
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 25 / 40 · 6.3 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.4%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| ruby-lang | ruby | cpe:2.3:a:ruby-lang:ruby |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- ruby-lang ruby1.8.6
- ruby-lang ruby1.8.7
- ruby-lang ruby1.8.8
- ruby-lang ruby1.9.1
- ruby-lang ruby1.9.2
- ruby-lang ruby1.9.3
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby-debuginfo | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby-devel | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby-docs | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby-irb | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby-libs | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby-mode | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby-rdoc | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby-ri | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | ruby-tcltk | before 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby-debuginfo | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby-devel | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby-docs | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby-irb | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby-libs | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby-rdoc | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby-ri | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby-static | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | ruby-tcltk | before 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 |
Same product
ruby-lang: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2017-17405Ruby before 2.4.3 allows Net::FTP command injection.57Plan
- CVE-2008-3656Algorithmic complexity vulnerability in the WEBrick::HTTPUtils.split_header_value function in WEBrick::HTTP::DefaultFileHandler in WEBrick i52Plan
- CVE-2021-28966In Ruby through 3.0 on Windows, a remote attacker can submit a crafted path when a Web application handles a parameter with TmpDir.47Plan
- CVE-2017-14064Ruby through 2.2.7, 2.3.x through 2.3.4, and 2.4.x through 2.4.1 can expose arbitrary memory during a JSON.generate call.42Plan
- CVE-2017-17790The lazy_initialize function in lib/resolv.rb in Ruby through 2.4.3 uses Kernel#open, which might allow Command Injection attacks, as demons41Plan
- CVE-2016-2339An exploitable heap overflow vulnerability exists in the Fiddle::Function.new "initialize" function functionality of Ruby.41Plan
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| red hat:ruby | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-debuginfo | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-devel | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-docs | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-irb | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-libs | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-mode | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-rdoc | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-ri | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-static | 0:1.8.7.299-7.el6_1.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ruby-tcltk | 0:1.8.5-19.el5_6.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- M
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-59 · Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')CVSS vector
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:C/A:C
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
- Obfuscated Files or Information: HTML SmugglingT1027.006
- Obfuscated Files or Information: Embedded PayloadsT1027.009
- Boot or Logon Autostart Execution:Shortcut ModificationT1547.009
- Hide Artifacts: Resource ForkingT1564.009
- Hijack Execution Flow: Executable Installer File Permissions WeaknessT1574.005
- Hijack Execution Flow: Services File Permissions WeaknessT1574.010
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2012/May/msg00001.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-March/054422.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-March/054436.html
- osvdb.org/70958
- secunia.com/advisories/43434
- secunia.com/advisories/43573
- support.apple.com/kb/HT5281
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:097
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/02/21/2
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/02/21/5
- www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-0909.html
- www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-0910.html
- www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2011/02/18/fileutils-is-vulnerable-to-symlink-race-attacks/
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/46460
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0539
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=678913
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.