CVE-2013-0162 — ruby_parser
Fix: seattlerb/ruby_parser@506c7e1CVE-2013-0162 is a CWE-264 vulnerability in ruby_parser. A fix is available for ruby_parser — see the affected versions and patch details below.
ruby_parser allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via symlink attack on temporary file with predictable name
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
Real-World Exposure
ruby_parserReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects RubyGems packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
The diff_pp function in lib/gauntlet_rubyparser.rb in the ruby_parser gem 3.1.1 and earlier for Ruby allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file with a predictable name in /tmp.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💎RubyGems | ruby_parser | ≥ 2.0.2&&< 3.1.2 | 3.1.2bundle update ruby_parser --conservative |
Affected Products
ruby parserryan_davisDetection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for ruby_parser, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update ruby_parser to 3.1.2 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2013-0162 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
Fixing This On Your OS
If you run this on a Linux distribution, patch through your package manager against the distro's own security advisory below — it tracks the exact backported fix for your release, which can ship on a different timeline (and sometimes a different severity) than the upstream project.
| Product | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|
| CloudForms for RHEL 6 | rubygem-activesupport-1:3.0.10-10.el6cf | RHSA-2013:0548 |
| Red Hat Subscription Asset Manager 1.2 | apache-commons-codec-0:1.7-2.el6_3 | RHSA-2013:0544 |
| RHEL 6 Version of OpenShift Enterprise | graphviz-0:2.26.0-10.el6 | RHSA-2013:0582 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2013-0162 in your dependencies?
Find it across RubyGems, including transitive dependencies.