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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2016-2098

HighPublic exploit

actionpack allows remote code execution via application's unrestricted use of render method

Published Oct 24, 2017 · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2016-2098, GHSA-78rc-8c29-p45g, SUSE-SU-2016:0867-1, SUSE-SU-2017:2716-1

Key Facts

Patch immediately
  • CVE-2016-2098 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.3 v3.1) affecting Rails (Rubyonrails), Ruby On Rails (Rubyonrails), Debian Linux and 22 more products.
  • It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. Public exploit code is available.
  • EPSS estimates a 81% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
  • Fixed versions are available, including actionpack 3.2.22.2, actionpack 4.1.14.2, actionpack 4.2.5.2.
  • Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.

CVSS v3.1

7.3

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

81%

Higher than 99.6% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

No known

Not in a known-exploited catalog

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2016-2098 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

Description

Action Pack in Ruby on Rails before 3.2.22.2, 4.x before 4.1.14.2, and 4.2.x before 4.2.5.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Ruby code by leveraging an application's unrestricted use of the render method.

Affected Products

217 affected entries in total
ProductAffected versionsFixed in
RailsRubyonrails4.0.0, 4.0.0-beta, 4.0.0-rc1, 4.0.0-rc2, 4.0.1, 4.0.10-rc1, 4.0.1-rc1, 4.0.1-rc22:4.2.5.2-1
Ruby On RailsRubyonrails4.1.14.13.2.22.1
Debian LinuxDebian8.0n/a
ruby-actionpack-3.2debianSee advisory3.2.6-6+deb7u3
actionpackrubygems>= 3.0.04.2.5.2
20 more affected products in the full CVE brief

Patched Releases

actionpack

3.2.22.2, 4.1.14.2, 4.2.5.2

portus

2.0.3-2.4

Rails

2:4.1.8-1+deb8u2, 2:4.2.5.2-1

rh-ror41-rubygem-actionpack

1:4.1.5-4.el6, 1:4.1.5-4.el7

rh-ror41-rubygem-actionview

0:4.1.5-5.el6, 0:4.1.5-5.el7

ror40-rubygem-actionpack

1:4.0.2-7.el6, 1:4.0.2-7.el7

ror40-rubygem-activerecord

1:4.0.2-6.el6, 1:4.0.2-6.el7

ror40-rubygem-activesupport

1:4.0.2-4.el6, 1:4.0.2-4.el7

ruby-actionpack-3.2

3.2.6-6+deb7u3

ruby193-rubygem-actionpack

1:3.2.8-16.el6, 1:3.2.8-16.el7

ruby193-rubygem-activerecord

1:3.2.8-11.el6, 1:3.2.8-11.el7

ruby193-rubygem-activesupport

1:3.2.8-6.el6, 1:3.2.8-6.el7

ruby2.1-rubygem-actionmailer-4_2

4.2.9-3.3.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-actionpack-4_2

4.2.9-7.3.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-actionview-4_1

4.1.9-12.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-actionview-4_2

4.2.2-8.1, 4.2.4-9.1, 4.2.9-9.3.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-actionview-doc-4_2

4.2.4-9.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-activejob-4_2

4.2.9-3.3.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-activemodel-4_2

4.2.9-6.3.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-activerecord-4_2

4.2.9-6.3.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-activesupport-4_2

4.2.9-7.3.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-rails-4_2

4.2.9-3.3.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-rails-html-sanitizer

1.0.3-8.3.1

ruby2.1-rubygem-railties-4_2

4.2.9-3.3.1

ruby2.2-rubygem-actionpack-4_2

4.2.7.1-1.1

Timeline

  1. Publicly disclosed

    Oct 24, 2017

  2. Last updated

    Sep 9, 2026

Weakness Type

  • CWE-20 Improper Input Validation
  • CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

References

15 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

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