CVE-2017-0903
CVE-2017-0903 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Rubygems with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 16% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-502.
Key facts
- Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
- CVSS v2: 7.5
- EPSS exploit prediction: 16% (96th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-502
- Affected product: Rubygems
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
RubyGems versions between 2.0.0 and 2.6.13 are vulnerable to a possible remote code execution vulnerability. YAML deserialization of gem specifications can bypass class white lists. Specially crafted serialized objects can possibly be used to escalate to remote code execution.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2017-0903?
- RubyGems versions between 2.0.0 and 2.6.13 are vulnerable to a possible remote code execution vulnerability. YAML deserialization of gem specifications can bypass class white lists. Specially crafted serialized objects can possibly be used to escalate to remote code execution.
- How severe is CVE-2017-0903?
- CVE-2017-0903 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2017-0903 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 16% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2017-0903?
- CVE-2017-0903 primarily affects Rubygems. In total, 87 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2017-0903?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- When was CVE-2017-0903 published?
- CVE-2017-0903 was published on 2017-10-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- http://blog.rubygems.org/2017/10/09/2.6.14-released.html
- http://blog.rubygems.org/2017/10/09/unsafe-object-deserialization-vulnerability.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101275
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:3485
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0378
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0583
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0585
- https://github.com/rubygems/rubygems/commit/510b1638ac9bba3ceb7a5d73135dafff9e5bab49
- https://hackerone.com/reports/274990
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00012.html
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3553-1/
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3685-1/
- https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-4031
Affected products (87)
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.0:preview2:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.0:preview2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.0:preview2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.0.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.0.rc.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.0.rc.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.1.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.2.0.preiew.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:rubygems:rubygems:2.2.0.rc.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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