CVE-2026-41316
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).
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (1.13%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
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.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.1 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 1.13% probability · 65th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-693, CWE-502
- Source
- security-advisories@github.com
References
- https://github.com/ruby/erb/security/advisories/GHSA-q339-8rmv-2mhv
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18030
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18039
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18065
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20596
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20606
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20614
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20670
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26312
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26655
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33462
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33478
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35834
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:37238
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-41316
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2461369
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-41316.json
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.