CVE-2021-22880 : What You Need to Know

The CVE-2021-22880 vulnerability affects the PostgreSQL adapter in Active Record versions before 6.1.2.1, 6.0.3.5, and 5.2.4.5. It is a regular expression denial of service (REDoS) vulnerability that can lead to a potential denial of service attack for Rails applications using PostgreSQL with specific column types.

Understanding CVE-2021-22880

This section will cover the details of the CVE-2021-22880 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-22880?

The PostgreSQL adapter in Active Record before versions 6.1.2.1, 6.0.3.5, and 5.2.4.5 is vulnerable to a regular expression denial of service (REDoS) issue. Crafted input can trigger excessive processing time in the

money

type validation, enabling a potential DoS attack on Rails applications utilizing PostgreSQL with user-input money type columns.

The Impact of CVE-2021-22880

The vulnerability poses a risk of DoS attacks on affected Rails applications, emphasizing the importance of timely mitigation.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-22880

Explore the technical aspects associated with CVE-2021-22880 below.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper input validation within the

money

type of the PostgreSQL adapter in Active Record, potentially leading to a DoS scenario.

Affected Systems and Versions

Active Record versions prior to 6.1.2.1, 6.0.3.5, and 5.2.4.5 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Crafted input triggering prolonged regular expression evaluation in the

money

type validation of Active Record's PostgreSQL adapter can facilitate a DoS attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to address and prevent the CVE-2021-22880 vulnerability in Rails applications.

Immediate Steps to Take

For immediate protection, update affected Active Record versions to 6.1.2.1, 6.0.3.5, or 5.2.4.5 to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Adopt robust input validation practices and monitor for suspicious activities to strengthen the security posture of Rails applications.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates to Active Record to stay protected against emerging vulnerabilities.