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Vulnerability record · CVE-2008-3655 · published 13 August 2008

CVE-2008-3655: Ruby-lang ruby permissions and access controls vulnerability

Ruby Lang · Ruby

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 properly restrict access to critical variables and methods at various safe levels, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via (1) untrace_var, (2) $PROGRAM_NAME, and (3) syslog at safe level 4, and (4) insecure methods at safe levels 1 through 3.

7.5 CVSS 2.0 High EPSS 14% · top 3.6% CWE-264 · Permissions and access controls
7.5CVSS 2.0 base score
14%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
64References, 4 tagged exploit
16 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

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 properly restrict access to critical variables and methods at various safe levels, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via (1) untrace_var, (2) $PROGRAM_NAME, and (3) syslog at safe level 4, and (4) insecure methods at safe levels 1 through 3.

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=494401
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/May/msg00002.html
http://secunia.com/advisories/31430 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/31697 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32165 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32219 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32255 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32256 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32371 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32372 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/33178 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/35074 Vendor Advisory
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200812-17.xml
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549
http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-424.htm
http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0264
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1651 Patch
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1652
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0895.html
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0897.html
http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2008/08/08/multiple-vulnerabilities-in-ruby/ Exploit
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/495884/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30644 ExploitPatch
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020656
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-133A.html US Government Resource
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2334 Vendor Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1297 PatchVendor Advisory
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44369
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11602
https://usn.ubuntu.com/651-1/
https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00259.html
https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00299.html
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=494401
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/May/msg00002.html
http://secunia.com/advisories/31430 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/31697 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32165 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32219 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32255 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32256 Vendor Advisory

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Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2008-3655), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.