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CVE-2026-126081NVD status: Awaiting Analysis

rails: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes

CVE-2026-126081 is a high-severity improperly controlled modification of dynamically-determined object attributes vulnerability in rails, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected rails versions: >= 8.1, < 8.1.4.1; < 8.0.5.2. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.63% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 51% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of rails you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Railsrails>= 8.1, < 8.1.4.1; < 8.0.5.2Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).

Official description

Action Pack is a framework for handling and responding to web requests. Prior to 8.1.4.1 and 8.0.5.2, ActionController::Parameters#each_key delegates to the internal ActiveSupport::HashWithIndifferentAccess that holds the request parameters, so when called with a block it returns that hash instead of the Parameters instance. The hash does not respond to permitted?, so Active Model mass assignment (new, assign_attributes, update) accepts it without raising ActiveModel::ForbiddenAttributesError. An application that passes the return value of each_key to mass assignment could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to set attributes that the application does not permit, such as an authorization flag. This is an incomplete fix of CVE-2020-8164, which made each, each_pair and each_value return the Parameters instance but left each_key delegated. An application is affected if it passes the return value of ActionController::Parameters#each_key, called with a block, to mass assignment. Rails itself makes no such call. This issue is fixed in versions 8.1.4.1 and 8.0.5.2.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes

The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies multiple attributes, properties, or fields that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control which attributes can be modified.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If available, use features of the language or framework that allow specification of allowlists of attributes or fields that are allowed to be modified. If possible, prefer allowlists over denylists. For applications written with Ruby on Rails, use the attr_accessible (allowlist) or attr_protected (denylist) macros in each class that may be used in mass assignment.
  • If available, use the signing/sealing features of the programming language to assure that deserialized data has not been tainted. For example, a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) could be used to ensure that data has not been modified.
  • For any externally-influenced input, check the input against an allowlist of internal object attributes or fields that are allowed to be modified.

More Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes vulnerabilities (CWE-915)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in rails

All rails vulnerabilities

Recent Improperly Controlled Modification of Dynamically-Determined Object Attributes vulnerabilities

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