CVE-2020-14001

The kramdown gem before 2.3.0 for Ruby processes the template option inside Kramdown documents by default, which allows unintended read access (such as…

published July 17, 2020

CVSS
—
EPSS
5%
Percentile
91.6
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A little-known gem is hiding a big secret! The kramdown gem processes templates in ways that can expose sensitive data—think of it as a restaurant menu with the chef's secret recipes listed right on it! Picture this: you're at a restaurant, and instead of just ordering off the menu, the waiter casually hands you the entire kitchen blueprint. That's what this vulnerability does by allowing unauthorized access to sensitive files! An attacker can potentially read sensitive files like `/etc/passwd` or execute unintended embedded Ruby code, which could lead to further exploits or even a complete takeover of your application. This is alarming, as it opens the door to critical information disclosure!

Put simply

Picture this: you're at a restaurant, and instead of just ordering off the menu, the waiter casually hands you the entire kitchen blueprint. That's what this vulnerability does by allowing unauthorized access to sensitive files! This vulnerability arises because kramdown automatically processes templates, which means attackers can manipulate document inputs to read files or execute Ruby code just by tampering with the template option.

What to do

An attacker can potentially read sensitive files like `/etc/passwd` or execute unintended embedded Ruby code, which could lead to further exploits or even a complete takeover of your application. This is alarming, as it opens the door to critical information disclosure! Patch immediately to version 2.3.0 or later to close this vulnerability. Additionally, review your Kramdown documents to ensure no sensitive data is exposed through improperly handled templates. Regularly audit your dependency versions to keep everything secure! You've got this! By following these steps, you can safeguard your application against any sneaky exploits. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.04560 · 91.6th percentile
Published
2020-07-17T15:27Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 17 JUL 15:27Z
    The kramdown gem before 2.3.0 for Ruby processes the template option inside Kramdown documents by default, which allows unintended read access (such as…
    cvelistv5