# CVE-2017-0898: Memory corruption in Ruby

> A malicious format string in Ruby can cause heap memory corruption, potentially allowing code execution or information disclosure.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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:** 15 Sep 2017
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2017-0898, CLEANSTART-2026-YB55994, GHSA-wvmx-3rv2-5jgf, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-0898

## What is CVE-2017-0898?

CVE-2017-0898 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Ruby-Lang Ruby, published on 15 Sep 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Ruby before 2.4.2, 2.3.5, and 2.2.8 is vulnerable to a malicious format string which contains a precious specifier (*) with a huge minus value. Such situation can lead to a buffer overrun, resulting in a heap memory corruption or an information disclosure from the heap.

Weakness: CWE-134 (Use of Externally-Controlled Format String)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-0898?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ruby-Lang Ruby.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-0898?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-0898 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-0898 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-2017-0898 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-0898 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Ruby-Lang Ruby, published on 15 Sep 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-2017-0898 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-2017-0898/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0898/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-0898
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-0898
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-0898

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0898/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.