abhilash1985 PredictApp Cookie new_framework_defaults_7_0.rb deserialization

Vulnerability

A critical deserialization vulnerability exists in abhilash1985 PredictApp, specifically in the Cookie Handler component. The issue affects the file config/initializers/new_framework_defaults_7_0.rb and is caused by the use of an unsafe cookie serializer. The affected version prior to the patch uses the :hybrid serializer which can deserialize objects from cookie data, potentially leading to remote code execution. The vulnerability is classified as critical [1].

Exploitation

The attack can be initiated remotely without authentication. An attacker can send a specially crafted HTTP request containing a malicious serialized cookie. If the application's cookie serializer is set to :hybrid, it will deserialize the cookie payload, allowing the attacker to trigger arbitrary object deserialization [1][2].

Impact

Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution (RCE), full compromise of the application server, and potential lateral movement within the network. The attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system, leading to complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability [1].

Mitigation

The vulnerability is fixed in commit b067372f3ee26fe1b657121f0f41883ff4461a06, where the cookie serializer is changed from :hybrid to :json, which is a secure format that does not allow deserialization of arbitrary objects [2]. Users should apply the patch immediately. No workaround is provided for unpatched versions.