VYPR
Moderate severityNVD Advisory· Published Mar 13, 2018· Updated Aug 5, 2024

CVE-2018-1000079

CVE-2018-1000079

Description

RubyGems version Ruby 2.2 series: 2.2.9 and earlier, Ruby 2.3 series: 2.3.6 and earlier, Ruby 2.4 series: 2.4.3 and earlier, Ruby 2.5 series: 2.5.0 and earlier, prior to trunk revision 62422 contains a Directory Traversal vulnerability in gem installation that can result in the gem could write to arbitrary filesystem locations during installation. This attack appear to be exploitable via the victim must install a malicious gem. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 2.7.6.

AI Insight

LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.

Directory traversal vulnerability in RubyGems allows arbitrary file write during gem installation via a malicious gem.

Vulnerability

CVE-2018-1000079 is a directory traversal vulnerability in RubyGems' gem installation process. The flaw lies in how RubyGems handles path names when extracting gem contents, allowing a malicious gem to write files to arbitrary filesystem locations outside the intended installation directory. This affects Ruby versions: 2.2.9 and earlier, 2.3.6 and earlier, 2.4.3 and earlier, and 2.5.0 and earlier, prior to trunk revision 62422 [2][4].

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious gem with specially crafted file paths that traverse directories. The victim must install the malicious gem, either by downloading it from an untrusted source or being tricked into installing it. No additional authentication or network position is required beyond what is necessary to install the gem.

Impact

Successful exploitation allows the attacker to write arbitrary files to the victim's filesystem at attacker-controlled locations. This could lead to overwriting system files, configuration files, or injecting malicious code, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the gem installation.

Mitigation

The vulnerability is fixed in Ruby 2.7.6 and later. Red Hat has released patches in RHSA-2018:3731, RHSA-2018:3730, RHSA-2018:3729, and RHSA-2020:0663 for affected Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions [1][2][3][4]. Users should update Ruby or RubyGems to the latest patched version. If immediate update is not possible, avoid installing gems from untrusted sources.

AI Insight generated on May 22, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.

Affected packages

Versions sourced from the GitHub Security Advisory.

PackageAffected versionsPatched versions
rubygems-updateRubyGems
< 2.7.62.7.6
org.jruby:jruby-stdlibMaven
< 9.1.16.09.1.16.0

Affected products

29

Patches

4
0b06b48ab443

Apply backported RubyGems 2.7.6 patch.

https://github.com/jruby/jrubyCharles Oliver NutterFeb 16, 2018via ghsa
7 files changed · +75 20
  • lib/ruby/stdlib/rubygems/commands/owner_command.rb+1 1 modified
    @@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def show_owners name
         end
     
         with_response response do |resp|
    -      owners = YAML.load resp.body
    +      owners = Gem::SafeYAML.load resp.body
     
           say "Owners for gem: #{name}"
           owners.each do |owner|
    
  • lib/ruby/stdlib/rubygems/package.rb+33 4 modified
    @@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ def extract_tar_gz io, destination_dir, pattern = "*" # :nodoc:
                 File.dirname destination
               end
     
    -        FileUtils.mkdir_p mkdir, mkdir_options
    +        mkdir_p_safe mkdir, mkdir_options, destination_dir, entry.full_name
     
             open destination, 'wb' do |out|
               out.write entry.read
    @@ -416,20 +416,35 @@ def install_location filename, destination_dir # :nodoc:
         raise Gem::Package::PathError.new(filename, destination_dir) if
           filename.start_with? '/'
     
    -    destination_dir = File.realpath destination_dir if
    -      File.respond_to? :realpath
    +    destination_dir = realpath destination_dir
         destination_dir = File.expand_path destination_dir
     
         destination = File.join destination_dir, filename
         destination = File.expand_path destination
     
         raise Gem::Package::PathError.new(destination, destination_dir) unless
    -      destination.start_with? destination_dir
    +      destination.start_with? destination_dir + '/'
     
         destination.untaint
         destination
       end
     
    +  def mkdir_p_safe mkdir, mkdir_options, destination_dir, file_name
    +    destination_dir = realpath File.expand_path(destination_dir)
    +    parts = mkdir.split(File::SEPARATOR)
    +    parts.reduce do |path, basename|
    +      path = realpath path  unless path == ""
    +      path = File.expand_path(path + File::SEPARATOR + basename)
    +      lstat = File.lstat path rescue nil
    +      if !lstat || !lstat.directory?
    +        unless path.start_with? destination_dir and (FileUtils.mkdir path, mkdir_options rescue false)
    +          raise Gem::Package::PathError.new(file_name, destination_dir)
    +        end
    +      end
    +      path
    +    end
    +  end
    +
       ##
       # Loads a Gem::Specification from the TarEntry +entry+
     
    @@ -603,6 +618,10 @@ def verify_files gem
           raise Gem::Package::FormatError.new \
                   'package content (data.tar.gz) is missing', @gem
         end
    +
    +    if duplicates = @files.group_by {|f| f }.select {|k,v| v.size > 1 }.map(&:first) and duplicates.any?
    +      raise Gem::Security::Exception, "duplicate files in the package: (#{duplicates.map(&:inspect).join(', ')})"
    +    end
       end
     
       ##
    @@ -616,6 +635,16 @@ def verify_gz entry # :nodoc:
         raise Gem::Package::FormatError.new(e.message, entry.full_name)
       end
     
    +  if File.respond_to? :realpath
    +    def realpath file
    +      File.realpath file
    +    end
    +  else
    +    def realpath file
    +      file
    +    end
    +  end
    +
     end
     
     require 'rubygems/package/digest_io'
    
  • lib/ruby/stdlib/rubygems/package/tar_header.rb+14 9 modified
    @@ -104,25 +104,30 @@ def self.from(stream)
         fields = header.unpack UNPACK_FORMAT
     
         new :name     => fields.shift,
    -        :mode     => fields.shift.oct,
    -        :uid      => fields.shift.oct,
    -        :gid      => fields.shift.oct,
    -        :size     => fields.shift.oct,
    -        :mtime    => fields.shift.oct,
    -        :checksum => fields.shift.oct,
    +        :mode     => strict_oct(fields.shift),
    +        :uid      => strict_oct(fields.shift),
    +        :gid      => strict_oct(fields.shift),
    +        :size     => strict_oct(fields.shift),
    +        :mtime    => strict_oct(fields.shift),
    +        :checksum => strict_oct(fields.shift),
             :typeflag => fields.shift,
             :linkname => fields.shift,
             :magic    => fields.shift,
    -        :version  => fields.shift.oct,
    +        :version  => strict_oct(fields.shift),
             :uname    => fields.shift,
             :gname    => fields.shift,
    -        :devmajor => fields.shift.oct,
    -        :devminor => fields.shift.oct,
    +        :devmajor => strict_oct(fields.shift),
    +        :devminor => strict_oct(fields.shift),
             :prefix   => fields.shift,
     
             :empty => empty
       end
     
    +  def self.strict_oct(str)
    +    return str.oct if str =~ /\A[0-7]*\z/
    +    raise ArgumentError, "#{str.inspect} is not an octal string"
    +  end
    +
       ##
       # Creates a new TarHeader using +vals+
     
    
  • lib/ruby/stdlib/rubygems/package/tar_writer.rb+2 0 modified
    @@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ def add_file_signed name, mode, signer
           digest_name == signer.digest_name
         end
     
    +    raise "no #{signer.digest_name} in #{digests.values.compact}" unless signature_digest
    +
         if signer.key then
           signature = signer.sign signature_digest.digest
     
    
  • lib/ruby/stdlib/rubygems.rb+1 1 modified
    @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     require 'thread'
     
     module Gem
    -  VERSION = "2.6.14"
    +  VERSION = "2.6.14.1"
     end
     
     # Must be first since it unloads the prelude from 1.9.2
    
  • lib/ruby/stdlib/rubygems/server.rb+13 1 modified
    @@ -631,6 +631,18 @@ def root(req, res)
           executables = nil if executables.empty?
           executables.last["is_last"] = true if executables
     
    +      # Pre-process spec homepage for safety reasons
    +      begin
    +        homepage_uri = URI.parse(spec.homepage)
    +        if [URI::HTTP, URI::HTTPS].member? homepage_uri.class
    +          homepage_uri = spec.homepage
    +        else
    +          homepage_uri = "."
    +        end
    +      rescue URI::InvalidURIError
    +        homepage_uri = "."
    +      end
    +
           specs << {
             "authors"             => spec.authors.sort.join(", "),
             "date"                => spec.date.to_s,
    @@ -640,7 +652,7 @@ def root(req, res)
             "only_one_executable" => (executables && executables.size == 1),
             "full_name"           => spec.full_name,
             "has_deps"            => !deps.empty?,
    -        "homepage"            => spec.homepage,
    +        "homepage"            => homepage_uri,
             "name"                => spec.name,
             "rdoc_installed"      => Gem::RDoc.new(spec).rdoc_installed?,
             "ri_installed"        => Gem::RDoc.new(spec).ri_installed?,
    
  • lib/ruby/stdlib/rubygems/specification.rb+11 4 modified
    @@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     require 'rubygems/stub_specification'
     require 'rubygems/util/list'
     require 'stringio'
    +require 'uri'
     
     ##
     # The Specification class contains the information for a Gem.  Typically
    @@ -2810,10 +2811,16 @@ def validate packaging = true
           raise Gem::InvalidSpecificationException, "#{lazy} is not a summary"
         end
     
    -    if homepage and not homepage.empty? and
    -       homepage !~ /\A[a-z][a-z\d+.-]*:/i then
    -      raise Gem::InvalidSpecificationException,
    -            "\"#{homepage}\" is not a URI"
    +    # Make sure a homepage is valid HTTP/HTTPS URI
    +    if homepage and not homepage.empty?
    +      begin
    +        homepage_uri = URI.parse(homepage)
    +        unless [URI::HTTP, URI::HTTPS].member? homepage_uri.class
    +          raise Gem::InvalidSpecificationException, "\"#{homepage}\" is not a valid HTTP URI"
    +        end
    +      rescue URI::InvalidURIError
    +        raise Gem::InvalidSpecificationException, "\"#{homepage}\" is not a valid HTTP URI"
    +      end
         end
     
         # Warnings
    
5971b486d4db

Version 2.7.6 with changelog

https://github.com/rubygems/rubygemsSamuel GiddinsFeb 16, 2018via ghsa
2 files changed · +20 1
  • History.txt+19 0 modified
    @@ -1,5 +1,24 @@
     # coding: UTF-8
     
    +=== 2.7.6 / 2018-02-16
    +
    +Security fixes:
    +
    +* Prevent path traversal when writing to a symlinked basedir outside of the root.
    +  Discovered by nmalkin, fixed by Jonathan Claudius and Samuel Giddins.
    +* Fix possible Unsafe Object Deserialization Vulnerability in gem owner.
    +  Fixed by Jonathan Claudius.
    +* Strictly interpret octal fields in tar headers.
    +  Discoved by plover, fixed by Samuel Giddins.
    +* Raise a security error when there are duplicate files in a package.
    +  Discovered by plover, fixed by Samuel Giddins.
    +* Enforce URL validation on spec homepage attribute.
    +  Discovered by Yasin Soliman, fixed by Jonathan Claudius.
    +* Mitigate XSS vulnerability in homepage attribute when displayed via `gem server`.
    +  Discovered by Yasin Soliman, fixed by Jonathan Claudius.
    +* Prevent Path Traversal issue during gem installation.
    +  Discovered by nmalkin.
    +
     === 2.7.4
     
     Bug fixes:
    
  • lib/rubygems.rb+1 1 modified
    @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     require 'thread'
     
     module Gem
    -  VERSION = "2.7.5"
    +  VERSION = "2.7.6"
     end
     
     # Must be first since it unloads the prelude from 1.9.2
    
666ef793cad4

Implement a safe mkdir for package that verifies were inside the destination dir for all new directories ccreated

https://github.com/rubygems/rubygemsSamuel GiddinsFeb 12, 2018via ghsa
2 files changed · +29 6
  • lib/rubygems/package.rb+28 5 modified
    @@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ def extract_tar_gz io, destination_dir, pattern = "*" # :nodoc:
                 File.dirname destination
               end
     
    -        FileUtils.mkdir_p mkdir, mkdir_options
    +        mkdir_p_safe mkdir, mkdir_options, destination_dir, entry.full_name
     
             File.open destination, 'wb' do |out|
               out.write entry.read
    @@ -416,13 +416,10 @@ def install_location filename, destination_dir # :nodoc:
         raise Gem::Package::PathError.new(filename, destination_dir) if
           filename.start_with? '/'
     
    -    destination_dir = File.realpath destination_dir if
    -      File.respond_to? :realpath
    +    destination_dir = realpath destination_dir
         destination_dir = File.expand_path destination_dir
     
         destination = File.join destination_dir, filename
    -    destination = File.realpath destination if
    -      File.respond_to? :realpath
         destination = File.expand_path destination
     
         raise Gem::Package::PathError.new(destination, destination_dir) unless
    @@ -432,6 +429,22 @@ def install_location filename, destination_dir # :nodoc:
         destination
       end
     
    +  def mkdir_p_safe mkdir, mkdir_options, destination_dir, file_name
    +    destination_dir = realpath File.expand_path(destination_dir)
    +    parts = mkdir.split(File::SEPARATOR)
    +    parts.reduce do |path, basename|
    +      path = realpath path  unless path == ""
    +      path = File.expand_path(path + File::SEPARATOR + basename)
    +      lstat = File.lstat path rescue nil
    +      if !lstat || !lstat.directory?
    +        unless path.start_with? destination_dir and (FileUtils.mkdir path, mkdir_options rescue false)
    +          raise Gem::Package::PathError.new(file_name, destination_dir)
    +        end
    +      end
    +      path
    +    end
    +  end
    +
       ##
       # Loads a Gem::Specification from the TarEntry +entry+
     
    @@ -622,6 +635,16 @@ def verify_gz entry # :nodoc:
         raise Gem::Package::FormatError.new(e.message, entry.full_name)
       end
     
    +  if File.respond_to? :realpath
    +    def realpath file
    +      File.realpath file
    +    end
    +  else
    +    def realpath file
    +      file
    +    end
    +  end
    +
     end
     
     require 'rubygems/package/digest_io'
    
  • test/rubygems/test_gem_package.rb+1 1 modified
    @@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ def test_extract_symlink_parent
          package.extract_tar_gz tgz_io, destination_subdir
        end
     
    -   assert_equal("installing into parent path ../outside.txt of " +
    +   assert_equal("installing into parent path lib/link/outside.txt of " +
                      "#{destination_subdir} is not allowed", e.message)
       end
     
    
f83f911e19e2

Add bug fix for #270068

https://github.com/rubygems/rubygemsJonathan ClaudiusFeb 1, 2018via ghsa
1 file changed · +1 1
  • lib/rubygems/package.rb+1 1 modified
    @@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ def install_location filename, destination_dir # :nodoc:
         destination = File.expand_path destination
     
         raise Gem::Package::PathError.new(destination, destination_dir) unless
    -      destination.start_with? destination_dir
    +      destination.start_with? destination_dir + '/'
     
         destination.untaint
         destination
    

Vulnerability mechanics

Generated on May 9, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.

References

22

News mentions

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