CVE-2024-49761: REXML ReDoS vulnerability

Published Oct 28, 2024
·
Updated

Impact

The REXML gem before 3.3.9 has a ReDoS vulnerability when it parses an XML that has many digits between &# and x...; in a hex numeric character reference (&#x...;).

This does not happen with Ruby 3.2 or later. Ruby 3.1 is the only affected maintained Ruby. Note that Ruby 3.1 will reach EOL on 2025-03.

Patches

The REXML gem 3.3.9 or later include the patch to fix the vulnerability.

Workarounds

Use Ruby 3.2 or later instead of Ruby 3.1.

References

https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2024/10/28/redos-rexml-cve-2024-49761/: An announce on www.ruby-lang.org

Other sources

Admin Framework. A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.

— Apple

Admin Framework. The issue was addressed with improved checks.

— Apple

App Store. A logging issue was addressed with improved data redaction.

— Apple

Apple Account. A privacy issue was addressed with improved checks.

— Apple

Apple Neural Engine. The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

— Apple

Credit

Ryan Dowd@@_rdowd, Csaba Fitzl@@theevilbit(Kandji), Nolan Astrein(Kandji), Mickey Jin@@patch1t, Gergely Kalman@@gergely_kalman, an anonymous researcher, Joseph Ravichandran@@0xjprx(MIT CSAIL), Dave G. (supernetworks.org), JZ, Zhongcheng Li(IES Red Team of ByteDance), Michael Reeves@@IntegralPilot, Duy Trần@@khanhduytran0, Morris Richman@@morrisinlife, Hikerell (Loadshine Lab), 이동하 (Lee Dong Ha(BoB 14th), wac(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Hossein Lotfi@@hosselot(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Adwiteeya Agrawal, Rodolphe BRUNETTI@@eisw0lf(Lupus Nova), pattern-f@@pattern_F_, Ferdous Saljooki@@malwarezoo(Jamf), Murray Mike, Cristian Dinca (icmd.tech), Apple, Dave G.(supernetworks), Alex Radocea(supernetworks), Romain Lebesle(Khatima), Himanshu Bharti@@Xpl0itme(Khatima), Taavi Eomäe(Zone Media), Michael DePlante@@izobashi(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), BynarIO AI (bynar.io), Kirin@@Pwnrin, Atul R V, Asaf Cohen, CVE-2024-43398, CVE-2024-49761, CVE-2025-6442, Vivek Dhar, ASI (RM) in Border Security Force, FTR HQ BSF Kashmir, Nikolai Skliarenko(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Kirin@@Pwnrin(Microsoft), Jonathan Bar Or@@yo_yo_yo_jbo(Microsoft), Wang Yu(Cyberserval), 이동하 (Lee Dong Ha)(SSA Lab), Alexia Wilson(Microsoft), Christine Fossaceca(Microsoft), CVE-2025-6965, Ron Masas(BreakPoint), Pinak Oza, Wojciech Regula(SecuRing), Kirin@@Pwnrin(Fudan University), LFY@@secsys(Fudan University), Kenneth Chew, Rodolphe Brunetti@@eisw0lf(Lupus Nova), @@EthanArbuckle, iisBuri, Google Threat Analysis Group, Doug Hogan, KPC(Cisco Talos), @@RenwaX23, Zhongquan Li@@Guluisacat, Stanislav Jelezoglo, an anonymous researcher(Microsoft), Amy@@asentientbot, CVE-2025-32462, CVE-2025-53906, Aleksejs Popovs, Phil Beauvoir, Google Big Sleep, Gary Kwong, rheza@@ginggilBesel, Justin Cohen(Google), Nan Wang@@eternalsakura13, rheza@@ginggilBesel(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), shandikri(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Gary Kwong(Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative), Tom Van Goethem, @@cloudlldb

Affected Software

18 affected componentsFixes available
rubygems/rexml<3.3.9
3.3.9
All of the following
ruby-lang Rexml Ruby<3.3.9
ruby-lang Ruby<3.2.0
NetApp Ontap Tools Vmware Vsphere=10
debian/ruby2.7<=2.7.4-1+deb11u1
2.7.4-1+deb11u5
debian/ruby3.1<=3.1.2-7+deb12u1
debian/ruby3.3
3.3.8-2
Apple macOS Sonoma<14.8.2
14.8.2
Apple macOS Sequoia<15.7.2
15.7.2
Apple macOS Tahoe<26.1
26.1
Microsoft azl3 ruby 3.3.5-3
Patch available
Microsoft cbl2 ruby 3.1.4-9
Patch available
Microsoft cbl2 rubygem-rexml 3.2.7-3
Patch available
Microsoft azl3 rubygem-rexml 3.3.9-2
Patch available
Microsoft cbl2 ruby 3.1.4-8
Patch available
Microsoft azl3 ruby 3.3.5-1
Patch available
Microsoft azl3 rubygem-rexml 3.3.9-1
Patch available
Microsoft cbl2 rubygem-rexml 3.2.7-4
Patch available

Remediation

Patch Available

https://github.com/ruby/rexml/commit/ce59f2eb1aeb371fe1643414f06618dbe031979f

Event History

Oct 28, 2024
Advisory Published
via GitHub·02:10 PM
CVE Published
via MITRE·02:10 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·02:10 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·03:01 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·03:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Nov 5, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·06:46 AM
Description
Nov 12, 2024
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·12:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·08:00 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Updated
via Microsoft·08:00 AM
Affected Software
Apr 19, 2025
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·03:40 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
May 13, 2025
Data Sourced
via Debian·03:45 PM
DescriptionAffected Software
Nov 3, 2025
Data Sourced
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
Description
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
Affected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Apple·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2024-49761?

CVE-2024-49761 is categorized as a ReDoS vulnerability which may lead to denial of service due to excessive resource consumption during XML parsing.

2

How do I fix CVE-2024-49761?

To mitigate CVE-2024-49761, upgrade the REXML gem to version 3.3.9 or later.

3

Which versions of Ruby are affected by CVE-2024-49761?

CVE-2024-49761 affects the REXML gem versions prior to 3.3.9, specifically impacting Ruby 3.1 and earlier.

4

Is CVE-2024-49761 present in Ruby 3.2 or later?

No, CVE-2024-49761 is not present in Ruby 3.2 or later versions.

5

What is the impact of CVE-2024-49761 on applications using the REXML gem?

CVE-2024-49761 can lead to a denial of service for applications that use the vulnerable REXML gem for XML parsing.

Company

Resources

Contact

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