# CVE-2013-4761: Puppet allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Ruby programs from the master via the resource_type service

> Remote attackers with local file system access to the Puppet Master can execute arbitrary Ruby programs via the resource_type service.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.1 (`AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Aug 2013
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2013-4761, GHSA-cj43-9h3w-v976

## What is CVE-2013-4761?

CVE-2013-4761 is a medium-severity code injection vulnerability in Puppet Puppet Enterprise, published on 20 Aug 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Unspecified vulnerability in Puppet 2.7.x before 2.7.23 and 3.2.x before 3.2.4, and Puppet Enterprise 2.8.x before 2.8.3 and 3.0.x before 3.0.1, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Ruby programs from the master via the resource_type service.  NOTE: this vulnerability can only be exploited utilizing unspecified "local file system access" to the Puppet Master.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-4761?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including puppet. It affects 3 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `puppet` | RubyGems | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.23 |
| `puppet` | RubyGems | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.23 |
| `puppet` | RubyGems | From 3.2.0 | 3.2.4 |
| `puppet` | RubyGems | From 3.2.0 | 3.2.4 |

Products: Puppet Puppet, Puppet Puppet Enterprise, Puppetlabs Puppet.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-4761?

Upgrade puppet to a fixed version for your release line: 2.7.23 or 3.2.4.

## Is CVE-2013-4761 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-4761 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Puppet Puppet Enterprise

- [CVE-2016-2785](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2785/): Puppet Improper Access Control (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-27021](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27021/): SQL injection in Puppet DB (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-6513](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6513/): Privilege escalation in Puppet Enterprise and Puppet Agent (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-6514](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6514/): Privilege escalation in Puppet Agent (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2018-6515](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6515/): Code injection in Puppet Agent (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2013-4761 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-4761 is a medium-severity code injection vulnerability in Puppet Puppet Enterprise, published on 20 Aug 2013. 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-2013-4761 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- puppet (RubyGems): affected from 2.7.0; fixed in 2.7.23
- puppet (RubyGems): affected from 2.7.0; fixed in 2.7.23
- puppet (RubyGems): affected from 3.2.0; fixed in 3.2.4
- puppet (RubyGems): affected from 3.2.0; fixed in 3.2.4

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-2013-4761/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-4761/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-4761
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4761
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-4761

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-4761/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.