CVE-2021-43809

Published: Dic 08, 2021 Last Modified: Nov 03, 2025 EU-VD ID: EUVD-2021-2513 Aliases: GHSA-fj7f-vq84-fh43
ExploitDB:
Other exploit source:
Google Dorks:
MEDIUM 6,7
Attack Vector: local
Attack Complexity: high
Privileges Required: low
User Interaction: required
Scope: unchanged
Confidentiality: high
Integrity: high
Availability: high
HIGH 9,3
Access Vector: network
Access Complexity: medium
Authentication: none
Confidentiality: complete
Integrity: complete
Availability: complete

Description

AI Translation Available

`Bundler` is a package for managing application dependencies in Ruby. In `bundler` versions before 2.2.33, when working with untrusted and apparently harmless `Gemfile`'s, it is not expected that they lead to execution of external code, unless that's explicit in the ruby code inside the `Gemfile` itself. However, if the `Gemfile` includes `gem` entries that use the `git` option with invalid, but seemingly harmless, values with a leading dash, this can be false. To handle dependencies that come from a Git repository instead of a registry, Bundler uses various commands, such as `git clone`. These commands are being constructed using user input (e.g. the repository URL). When building the commands, Bundler versions before 2.2.33 correctly avoid Command Injection vulnerabilities by passing an array of arguments instead of a command string. However, there is the possibility that a user input starts with a dash (`-`) and is therefore treated as an optional argument instead of a positional one. This can lead to Code Execution because some of the commands have options that can be leveraged to run arbitrary executables. Since this value comes from the `Gemfile` file, it can contain any character, including a leading dash.

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker has to craft a directory containing a `Gemfile` file that declares a dependency that is located in a Git repository. This dependency has to have a Git URL in the form of `-u./payload`. This URL will be used to construct a Git clone command but will be interpreted as the upload-pack argument. Then this directory needs to be shared with the victim, who then needs to run a command that evaluates the Gemfile, such as `bundle lock`, inside.

This vulnerability can lead to Arbitrary Code Execution, which could potentially lead to the takeover of the system. However, the exploitability is very low, because it requires a lot of user interaction. Bundler 2.2.33 has patched this problem by inserting `--` as an argument before any positional arguments to those Git commands that were affected by this issue. Regardless of whether users can upgrade or not, they should review any untrustred `Gemfile`'s before running any `bundler` commands that may read them, since they can contain arbitrary ruby code.

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System)

Trend Analysis

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System)

Prevede la probabilità di sfruttamento basata su intelligence sulle minacce e sulle caratteristiche della vulnerabilità.

EPSS Score
0,0156
Percentile
0,8th
Updated

EPSS Score Trend (Last 90 Days)

88

Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')

Draft
Common Consequences
Security Scopes Affected:
Confidentiality Integrity Availability Other
Potential Impacts:
Execute Unauthorized Code Or Commands Alter Execution Logic Read Application Data Modify Application Data
Applicable Platforms
Languages: Not Language-Specific, PHP
View CWE Details
Application

Bundler by Bundler

Version Range Affected
To 2.2.33 (exclusive)
cpe:2.3:a:bundler:bundler:*:*:*:*:*:ruby:*:*
Common Platform Enumeration - Standardized vulnerability identification
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/commit/0fad1ccfe9dd7a3c5b82c1496df3c2b4842…
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/commit/a4f2f8ac17e6ce81c689527a8b6f1438106…
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/pull/5142
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/security/advisories/GHSA-fj7f-vq84-fh43
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00015.html
https://www.sonarsource.com/blog/securing-developer-tools-package-managers/
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/commit/0fad1ccfe9dd7a3c5b82c1496df3c2b4842…
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/commit/a4f2f8ac17e6ce81c689527a8b6f1438106…
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/pull/5142
https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/security/advisories/GHSA-fj7f-vq84-fh43
https://www.sonarsource.com/blog/securing-developer-tools-package-managers/