CVE-2025-53623 is a high-severity OS command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) found in the Shopify job-iteration library, specifically in versions prior to 1.11.0. The job-iteration library is an extension for ActiveJob, a background job framework used in Ruby on Rails applications, designed to make jobs interruptible and resumable. The vulnerability resides in the CsvEnumerator class, which is responsible for iterating over CSV files. Improper neutralization of special elements in the input allows an attacker to inject arbitrary OS commands that get executed on the host system. This can occur when untrusted input, such as maliciously crafted CSV filenames or file paths, is passed to methods like count_of_rows_in_file without proper sanitization or validation. Exploitation does not require authentication or user interaction, and the attack vector is remote network-based, making it highly accessible to attackers. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution, enabling unauthorized access, data leakage, or full system compromise. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.1, reflecting its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Shopify has fixed this issue in version 1.11.0 and later. Users are advised to upgrade to these versions and avoid passing untrusted input to the vulnerable CsvEnumerator methods. Proper input validation and sanitization of file paths are critical to mitigating this risk.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on Ruby on Rails applications that use the Shopify job-iteration library for background job processing. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized system access, data breaches involving sensitive personal or corporate data, and disruption of critical business processes. Given the GDPR regulatory environment in Europe, data leakage could result in severe legal and financial penalties. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and government, which often process large volumes of CSV data and rely on background job frameworks, are particularly vulnerable. The ability to execute arbitrary commands remotely without authentication increases the threat level, potentially allowing attackers to pivot within networks, deploy ransomware, or exfiltrate data. The vulnerability could also undermine trust in digital services and disrupt supply chains if exploited at scale.

1. Immediate upgrade to Shopify job-iteration version 1.11.0 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Audit all usage of the CsvEnumerator class and specifically avoid using the count_of_rows_in_file method with untrusted or external CSV filenames. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization for all file paths and names passed to job-iteration methods, ensuring that special characters and command injection vectors are neutralized. 4. Employ application-layer security controls such as allowlisting of file paths and filenames to restrict inputs to known safe values. 5. Monitor application logs and system behavior for unusual command execution patterns or unexpected job processing failures. 6. Conduct code reviews and penetration testing focused on job-iteration usage to detect any residual injection risks. 7. Apply network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 8. Educate developers and DevOps teams about secure coding practices related to OS command execution and input handling in background job frameworks.