CVE-2017-14064: Ruby through 2.2.7, 2.3.x through 2.3.4, and 2.4.x through 2.4.1 can expose arbitrary memory during a JSON.gen

Q: How do I fix CVE-2017-14064?

ruby: upgrade to newer than 2.2.7; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2017-14064 being exploited?

CVE-2017-14064 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2017-14064 affect?

CVE-2017-14064 affects ruby, debian linux, ubuntu linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Ruby through 2.2.7, 2.3.x through 2.3.4, and 2.4.x through 2.4.1 can expose arbitrary memory during a JSON.generate call. The issues lies in using strdup in ext/json/ext/generator/generator.c, which will stop after encountering a '\0' byte,

Q: How urgent is CVE-2017-14064?

Priority 73/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2017-14064 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting ruby, debian linux, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Ruby through 2.2.7, 2.3.x through 2.3.4, and 2.4.x through 2.4.1 can expose arbitrary memory during a JSON.generate call. The issues lies in using strdup in ext/json/ext/generator/generator.c, which will stop after encountering a '\0' byte, returning a pointer to a string of length zero, which is not the length stored in space_len.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	9.4% (top 5%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2017-08-31
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · debian · redhat · ruby-lang

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2017-08-31 17:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:05 UTCUpdated Record last modified

ruby-lang ruby UPGRADE

Affected: <= 2.2.7 · 2.3.0 · 2.3.0 preview1 · 2.3.0 preview2 · 2.3.1 · 2.3.2 · 2.3.3 · 2.3.4

Fixed in: newer than 2.2.7

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ruby || rpm -q ruby || ruby --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 2.2.7 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ruby

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade ruby

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0 · 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 14.04 · 16.04 · 17.10

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 14.04

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux server MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux server aus MITIGATE

Affected: 7.4 · 7.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.4

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · root · FIXED · 6.40.04-7.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-7329868400 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-7329868400

RHEL 7 · ruby · FIXED · ruby-2.0.0.648-33.el7_4

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2018:0378 rpm -q ruby

RHEL 5 · ruby · NOT AFFECTED

RHEL 6 · ruby · NOT AFFECTED

Alpine 3.20 · ruby · FIXED · ruby-2.4.2-r0

apk add --upgrade ruby apk info -v ruby

Alpine 3.21 · ruby · FIXED · ruby-2.4.2-r0

apk add --upgrade ruby apk info -v ruby

Alpine 3.22 · ruby · FIXED · ruby-2.4.2-r0

apk add --upgrade ruby apk info -v ruby

Alpine 3.23 · ruby · FIXED · ruby-2.4.2-r0

apk add --upgrade ruby apk info -v ruby

Amazon Linux 1 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS-2017-915 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2017-915

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: hackerone.com/reports/209949

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2017-14064?

ruby: upgrade to newer than 2.2.7; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2017-14064 being exploited?

CVE-2017-14064 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2017-14064 affect?

CVE-2017-14064 affects ruby, debian linux, ubuntu linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Ruby through 2.2.7, 2.3.x through 2.3.4, and 2.4.x through 2.4.1 can expose arbitrary memory during a JSON.generate call. The issues lies in using strdup in ext/json/ext/generator/generator.c, which will stop after encountering a '\0' byte,

How urgent is CVE-2017-14064?

Priority 73/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities · Ruby vulnerabilities

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References

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