# CVE-2008-3655: Security feature bypass in n/a

> Attackers can bypass Ruby's safe level restrictions to access critical variables and methods, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution or privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Not stated
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 Aug 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p524-ppf2-w36w

## What is CVE-2008-3655?

CVE-2008-3655 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ruby-Lang Ruby, published on 13 Aug 2008. 

### Official 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.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-3655?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ruby-Lang Ruby.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-3655?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-3655 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-3655 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Ruby 1.9 dl - Module DL.dlopen Arbitrary Library Access (exploitdb)
- Ruby 1.9 - Safe Level Multiple Function Restriction Bypass (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Ruby-Lang Ruby

- [CVE-2009-4124](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4124/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2022-28738](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-28738/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2011-4121](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4121/): Weak cryptography in OpenSSL extension of Ruby (Git trunk) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-17790](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17790/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-11465](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-11465/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-3655 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-3655 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ruby-Lang Ruby, published on 13 Aug 2008. 
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-3655 exists.

Affected product: Ruby-Lang Ruby. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3655/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3655/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-3655
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3655
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-3655

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3655/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.