# CVE-2021-32756: Arbitrary eval through MiqExpression

> A low-privilege user can execute arbitrary code with root privileges via crafted Ruby strings in the MiqExpression module.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-32x4-vj4r-57rq

## What is CVE-2021-32756?

CVE-2021-32756 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in manageiq, published on 21 Jul 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

ManageIQ is an open-source management platform. In versions prior to jansa-4, kasparov-2, and lasker-1, there is a flaw in the MiqExpression module of ManageIQ where a low privilege user could enter a crafted Ruby string which would be evaluated. Successful exploitation will allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with root privileges on the host system. There are patches for this issue in releases named jansa-4, kasparov-2, and lasker-1. If possible, restrict users, via RBAC, to only the part of the application that they need access to. While MiqExpression is widely used throughout the product, restricting users can limit the surface of the attack.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code), CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-32756?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Manageiq Manageiq.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-32756?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-32756 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-32756 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-32756 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-32756 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-32756 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in manageiq, published on 21 Jul 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-32756 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: manageiq. 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-2021-32756/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32756/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-32756
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32756
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-32756

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32756/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.