# CVE-2011-1004: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can delete arbitrary files via symlink attacks in Ruby's FileUtils.remove_entry_secure method.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.3 (`AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Mar 2011
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-45wv-gc6w-fq7m

## What is CVE-2011-1004?

CVE-2011-1004 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Ruby-Lang Ruby, published on 2 Mar 2011. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The FileUtils.remove_entry_secure method in Ruby 1.8.6 through 1.8.6-420, 1.8.7 through 1.8.7-330, 1.8.8dev, 1.9.1 through 1.9.1-430, 1.9.2 through 1.9.2-136, and 1.9.3dev allows local users to delete arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-1004?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ruby-Lang Ruby.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-1004?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2011-1004 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2011-1004 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2011-1004 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-1004 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Ruby-Lang Ruby, published on 2 Mar 2011. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2011-1004 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2011-1004/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1004/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-1004
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-1004
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-1004

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1004/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.