CVE-2026-41316

ERB has an @_init deserialization guard bypass via def_module / def_method / def_class

Published Apr 24, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 8.1 High EPSS 1.1% KEV · Not listed
Description
ERB is a templating system for Ruby. Ruby 2.7.0 (before ERB 2.2.0 was published on rubygems.org) introduced an `@_init` instance variable guard in `ERB#result` and `ERB#run` to prevent code execution when an ERB object is reconstructed via `Marshal.load` (deserialization). However, three other public methods that also evaluate `@src` via `eval()` were not given the same guard: `ERB#def_method`, `ERB#def_module`, and `ERB#def_class`. An attacker who can trigger `Marshal.load` on untrusted data in a Ruby application that has `erb` loaded can use `ERB#def_module` (zero-arg, default parameters) as a code execution sink, bypassing the `@_init` protection entirely. ERB 4.0.3.1, 4.0.4.1, 6.0.1.1, and 6.0.4 patch the issue.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4716-1 ruby2.7 security update
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-q339-8rmv-2mhv ERB has an @_init deserialization guard bypass via def_module / def_method / def_class
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Ruby
Ruby erb
Vendors & Products Ruby
Ruby erb
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description ERB is a templating system for Ruby. Ruby 2.7.0 (before ERB 2.2.0 was published on rubygems.org) introduced an `@_init` instance variable guard in `ERB#result` and `ERB#run` to prevent code execution when an ERB object is reconstructed via `Marshal.load` (deserialization). However, three other public methods that also evaluate `@src` via `eval()` were not given the same guard: `ERB#def_method`, `ERB#def_module`, and `ERB#def_class`. An attacker who can trigger `Marshal.load` on untrusted data in a Ruby application that has `erb` loaded can use `ERB#def_module` (zero-arg, default parameters) as a code execution sink, bypassing the `@_init` protection entirely. ERB 4.0.3.1, 4.0.4.1, 6.0.1.1, and 6.0.4 patch the issue.
Title ERB has an @_init deserialization guard bypass via def_module / def_method / def_class
Weaknesses CWE-693
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Aug 24, 2026, 12:06 PM
Reserved
Apr 20, 2026, 2:01 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Apr 24, 2026, 3:16 AM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 10:10 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Apr 24, 2026, 2:35 AM