# CVE-2016-2336: Memory corruption in Ruby

> A type confusion vulnerability in Ruby's WIN32OLE class allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by passing unexpected object types.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Jan 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-f46g-7w88-2qv4

## What is CVE-2016-2336?

CVE-2016-2336 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Ruby-Lang Ruby, published on 6 Jan 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Type confusion exists in two methods of Ruby's WIN32OLE class, ole_invoke and ole_query_interface. Attacker passing different type of object than this assumed by developers can cause arbitrary code execution.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-2336?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ruby-Lang Ruby.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-2336?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-2336 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-2336 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-2336 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-2016-2336 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-2336 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Ruby-Lang Ruby, published on 6 Jan 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-2336 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-2016-2336/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2336/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-2336
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2336
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-2336

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2336/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.