# CVE-2016-2339: Memory corruption in Ruby

> A heap overflow in Ruby's Fiddle library allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted arguments.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 Jan 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** CLSA-2025-1758023679, GHSA-c4w7-m676-pcvp, SUSE-SU-2017:0914-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-2339

## What is CVE-2016-2339?

CVE-2016-2339 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

An exploitable heap overflow vulnerability exists in the Fiddle::Function.new "initialize" function functionality of Ruby. In Fiddle::Function.new "initialize" heap buffer "arg_types" allocation is made based on args array length. Specially constructed object passed as element of args array can increase this array size after mentioned allocation and cause heap overflow.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-2339?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `ruby19` | SUSE:Studio Onsite 1.3 | All versions | 1.9.3.p392-0.26.1 |
| `ruby19` | SUSE:Studio Onsite Runner 1.3 | All versions | 1.9.3.p392-0.26.1 |

Products: Ruby-Lang Ruby.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-2339?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-2339 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-2339 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-2016-2339 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-2339 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-2016-2339 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-2016-2339/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2339/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-2339
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2339
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-2339

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2339/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.