CVE-2008-3657

Ruby < 1.8.5 and 1.8.6-1.8.6-p286 and 1.8.7-1.8.7-p71 and 1.9-r18423 - Safe Level Bypass via DL.dlopen

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2008-3657. PoCs published by Keita Yamaguchi.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a flaw in Ruby's 'dl' library to bypass safe level restrictions and execute arbitrary commands. It demonstrates a security-bypass vulnerability by calling the 'system' function despite $SAFE being set to 1.

Description

The dl module in Ruby 1.8.5 and earlier, 1.8.6 through 1.8.6-p286, 1.8.7 through 1.8.7-p71, and 1.9 through r18423 does not check "taintness" of inputs, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass safe levels and execute dangerous functions by accessing a library using DL.dlopen.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Keita Yamaguchi · rubyremotemultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/32223

This exploit leverages a flaw in Ruby's 'dl' library to bypass safe level restrictions and execute arbitrary commands. It demonstrates a security-bypass vulnerability by calling the 'system' function despite $SAFE being set to 1.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Ruby 1.8.5, 1.8.6-p286, 1.8.7-p71, and 1.9 r18423
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Ruby installation with vulnerable version
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (30)

Core 30
Core References
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ubuntu
https://usn.ubuntu.com/651-1/
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/31430
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/31697
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549
Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm
http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0264
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1652
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9793
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/35074
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1651
Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_apple
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/May/msg00002.html
Exploit, Patch vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30644
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0897.html
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32219
US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-133A.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44372
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32255
Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1297
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/495884/100/0/threaded
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32371
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32165
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_gentoo
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200812-17.xml
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/33178
Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2334
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020652
Issue Tracking x_refsource_confirm
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=494401
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32256

Scores

EPSS 0.1367
EPSS Percentile 96.0%

Details

CWE
CWE-20
Status published
Products (11)
ruby-lang/ruby 1.6.8
ruby-lang/ruby 1.8.0
ruby-lang/ruby 1.8.1 (2 CPE variants)
ruby-lang/ruby 1.8.2 (4 CPE variants)
ruby-lang/ruby 1.8.3 (4 CPE variants)
ruby-lang/ruby 1.8.4 (4 CPE variants)
ruby-lang/ruby 1.8.5 p11 (11 CPE variants)
ruby-lang/ruby 1.8.6 (6 CPE variants)
ruby-lang/ruby 1.8.7 (8 CPE variants)
ruby-lang/ruby 1.9.0
... and 1 more
Published Aug 13, 2008
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026