CVE-2020-8151Network attack vector

Information disclosure via improperly encoded resource IDs

Published May 12, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Incorrect authorization in Rails Active Resource before 5.1.1 allows remote attackers to disclose REST service data via crafted IDs. The element_path method passes an attacker-controlled resource identifier to URI.parser.escape, which leaves reserved query and path characters unencoded when constructing a backend URL. Exploitation requires a consuming application to pass an untrusted identifier into Active Resource; impact is limited to reading backend data reachable through the altered request.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability2.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in Rails Active Resource before 5.1.1 allows remote attackers to disclose REST service data via crafted IDs. The element_path method passes an attacker-controlled resource identifier to URI.parser.escape, which leaves reserved query and path characters unencoded when constructing a backend URL. Exploitation requires a consuming application to pass an untrusted identifier into Active Resource; impact is limited to reading backend data reachable through the altered request.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8151
Published
May 12, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Rails
Product
Active Resource
Classifications
CWE-200, CWE-863, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 12, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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=5.1.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Rails · Active Resourceversion=5.1.1

Published CVSS scores

7.5GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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