The kramdown gem before 2.3.0 for Ruby processes the template option inside Kramdown…
Priority MEDIUM 49CWE-862Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-862.
Summary
The kramdown gem before 2.3.0 for Ruby processes the template option inside Kramdown documents by default, which allows unintended read access (such as template="/etc/passwd") or unintended embedded Ruby code execution (such as a string that begins with template="string://<%= `). NOTE: kramdown is used in Jekyll, GitLab Pages, GitHub Pages, and Thredded Forum.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.0456 91st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed kramdown (RubyGems): 2.3.0
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| — | kramdown (RubyGems) | before 2.3.0 | 2.3.0 | Patch available | GHSA-mqm2-cgpr-p4m6 |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- kramdown (RubyGems) Vendor— Affected before 2.3.0 Fixed in 2.3.0 Patch available GHSA-mqm2-cgpr-p4m6
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:kramdown_project:kramdown:*:*:*:*:*:ruby:*:* | before 2.3.0 | Vulnerable | Kramdown Project |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:31:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 31 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:32:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 32 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 20.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:a:kramdown_project:kramdown:*:*:*:*:*:ruby:*:* Versions before 2.3.0 Vulnerable ·Kramdown Project
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:31:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 31 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:32:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 32 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 20.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-mqm2-cgpr-p4m6 kramdown (RubyGems) Fixed in 2.3.0 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-14001
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mqm2-cgpr-p4m6
References
Patch 2
Advisory 12
- https://github.com/gettalong/kramdown
- https://kramdown.gettalong.org
- https://rubygems.org/gems/kramdown
- https://kramdown.gettalong.org/news.html
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0004/
- [debian-lts-announce] 20200809 [SECURITY] [DLA 2316-1] ruby-kramdown security update
- DSA-4743
- FEDORA-2020-f6eee9a2d3
- FEDORA-2020-5c70d97eca
- USN-4562-1
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-14001
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-mqm2-cgpr-p4m6
Other 7
- [fluo-notifications] 20200808 [GitHub] [fluo-website] ctubbsii opened a new pull request #194: Update gems
- https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/kramdown/CVE-2020-14001.yml
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r96df7899fbb456fe2705882f710a0c8e8614b573fbffd8d12e3f54d2@%3Cnotifications.fluo.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/ENMMGKHRQIZ3QKGOMBBBGB6B4LB5I7NQ
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/KBLTGBYU7NKOUOHDKVCU4GFZMGA6BP4L
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0004
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4562-1
Sources
- CVE-2020-14001 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-14001 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mqm2-cgpr-p4m6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2020-14001 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences