Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
rbenv, a Ruby version management tool, is reported vulnerable to directory traversal in how a Ruby version is specified. The CVE description says this can lead to arbitrary code execution. Business risk is highest where developers or automation run rbenv against untrusted repositories or project files.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted developer-tooling risk, not a broad internet-facing emergency. Prioritize teams using rbenv in CI or with third-party code because compromise could affect source code, credentials, or build outputs.
Technical view
CVE-2017-1000047 describes directory traversal through the Ruby version specification in rbenv, affecting “all current versions” per the CVE text. The provided record does not include CVSS, CWE, exact affected versions, patch details, or vendor remediation guidance.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on developer workstations, CI jobs, build systems, or automation that use rbenv and process repository-controlled Ruby version configuration. The source bundle does not identify specific packaged versions, platforms, or downstream distributions.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show KEV listing or cited active exploitation. The reported impact is arbitrary code execution, but exploitation prerequisites and reliability are not documented in the provided CVE metadata.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse: the CVE record names rbenv and arbitrary code execution, but affected versions and fixes are not structured. Use the advisory as the primary technical lead and avoid assuming exploit activity without additional sourced evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory developer, CI, and build environments using rbenv.
- Review the linked advisory and current rbenv project guidance.
- Avoid running rbenv against untrusted repositories until risk is resolved.
- Pin or update rbenv according to confirmed upstream guidance.
- Restrict build automation permissions and isolate untrusted project processing.
Validation and detection
- Search managed endpoints and CI images for rbenv installations.
- Identify workflows that read repository-controlled Ruby version files.
- Check whether rbenv versions match any advisory guidance.
- Review CI logs for untrusted repositories invoking rbenv.
- Document compensating controls where patch status is unclear.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2017-1000047 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/justinsteven/advisories/blob/master/2017_rbenv_ruby_version_directory_traversal.mdCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.