Vulnerability in Puma
CVE-2021-41136
Puma is a HTTP 1.1 server for Ruby/Rack applications. Prior to versions 5.5.1 and 4.3.9, using `puma` with a proxy which forwards HTTP header values which contain the LF character could allow HTTP request smugggling. A client could smuggle a request through a proxy, causing the proxy to send a response back to another unknown client. The only proxy which has this behavior, as far as the Puma team is aware of, is Apache Traffic Server. If the proxy uses persistent connections and the client adds another request in via HTTP pipelining, the proxy may mistake it as the first request's body. Puma, however, would see it as two requests, and when processing the second request, send back a response that the proxy does not expect. If the proxy has reused the persistent connection to Puma to send another request for a different client, the second response from the first client will be sent to the second client. This vulnerability was patched in Puma 5.5.1 and 4.3.9. As a workaround, do not use Apache Traffic Server with `puma`.
Vulnerability class: HTTP Request Smuggling
EPSS: 0.011 (62.8th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 3.7 (Low). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
Affected products
- Puma — versions >= 5.0.0, < 5.5.1, < 4.3.9
- Debian Debian_linux — versions 10.0, 11.0
Weakness classification (CWE)
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- security-advisories@github.com (x_refsource_CONFIRM, Third Party Advisory)
- security-advisories@github.com (x_refsource_MISC)
- security-advisories@github.com (Patch, Third Party Advisory, x_refsource_MISC)
- security-advisories@github.com (x_refsource_MISC)
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 (Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 (Third Party Advisory)
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 (Third Party Advisory)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2021-41136?
- CVE-2021-41136 is a low-severity vulnerability in Puma, classified under Inconsistent Interpretation of HTTP Requests (HTTP Request/Response Smuggling). CVSS score: 3.7/10. Published 2021-10-12.
- How severe is CVE-2021-41136?
- Low severity. CVSS v3 base score is 3.7 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2021-41136 known to be exploited?
- 1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.