CVE-2020-8165 : What You Need to Know

A deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability exists in Rails versions prior to 5.2.4.3 and 6.0.3.1, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code.

Understanding CVE-2020-8165

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Rails that could lead to remote code execution (RCE) due to improper handling of untrusted data.

What is CVE-2020-8165?

The CVE-2020-8165 vulnerability in Rails versions before 5.2.4.3 and 6.0.3.1 enables attackers to deserialize untrusted data, potentially resulting in RCE through MemCacheStore and RedisCacheStore.

The Impact of CVE-2020-8165

The vulnerability allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary code by unmarshalling user-provided objects, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-8165

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the improper deserialization of untrusted data in Rails versions prior to 5.2.4.3 and 6.0.3.1, facilitating RCE attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected versions: Rails < 5.2.4.3, Rails < 6.0.3.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by unmarshalling user-provided objects in MemCacheStore and RedisCacheStore, potentially leading to RCE.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-8165 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Rails to version 5.2.4.3 or 6.0.3.1 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict user input to prevent malicious object deserialization.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and sanitization to prevent untrusted data exploitation.
Regularly update and patch software to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Rails promptly to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.