CVE-2011-1497Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Client-side script execution via HTML-safe auto_link output

Published Oct 19, 2021 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Cross-site scripting in Ruby on Rails before 3.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript through auto_link output. The Action View auto_link helper marks its entire result HTML-safe, preventing untrusted non-link input from being escaped during rendering. An application must pass attacker-controlled content to auto_link and a victim must load the resulting page, enabling script actions in the application's origin.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability1.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cross-site scripting in Ruby on Rails before 3.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute JavaScript through auto_link output. The Action View auto_link helper marks its entire result HTML-safe, preventing untrusted non-link input from being escaped during rendering. An application must pass attacker-controlled content to auto_link and a victim must load the resulting page, enabling script actions in the application's origin.

The record

CVE
CVE-2011-1497
Published
Oct 19, 2021
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Ruby on Rails
Product
Ruby on Rails
Classifications
CWE-79, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 19, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=rails 3.0.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Ruby on Rails · Ruby on Railsversion=rails 3.0.6

Published CVSS scores

6.1GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-79Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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