High severity · published Apr 24, 2026
CVE-2026-41316
ERB has an @_init deserialization guard bypass via def_module / def_method / def_class
8.1
CVSS
1.1%
EPSS
No
On KEV
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 vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
High
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)1.1% · higher than 66% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
ER
erb · ruby
< 4.0.3.1; = 4.0.4; >= 5.0.0, < 6.0.1.1; >= 6.0.2, < 6.0.4 · source: vendor
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update Support · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Update Services for SAP Solutions · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Update Services for SAP Solutions · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.6 Extended Update Support · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41316
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-41316
github.com
https://github.com/ruby/erb/security/advisories/GHSA-q339-8rmv-2mhv
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18030
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18039
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18065
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20596
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:20606
