CVE-2024-49761: REXML ReDoS vulnerability
Affects rexmlSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 6.6 Medium : upgrade to 3.3.9 when convenient.
Data as of 29 Oct 2026, 22:52 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (GitHub_M) | CVSS 4.0 | 6.6 |
|---|
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 3.3.9
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:UExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 28 Oct 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade rexml to 3.3.9.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| RubyGemsrexml | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
### Impact The REXML gem before 3.3.9 has a ReDoS vulnerability when it parses an XML that has many digits between `&#` and `x...;` in a hex numeric character reference (`&#x...;`). This does not happen with Ruby 3.2 or later. Ruby 3.1 is the only affected maintained Ruby. Note that Ruby 3.1 will reach EOL on 2025-03. ### Patches The REXML gem 3.3.9 or later include the patch to fix the vulnerability. ### Workarounds Use Ruby 3.2 or later instead of Ruby 3.1. ### References * https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2024/10/28/redos-rexml-cve-2024-49761/: An announce on www.ruby-lang.org
References
- github.com/ruby/rexml/security/advisories/GHSA-2rxp-v6pw-ch6m (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49761 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/ruby/rexml/commit/ce59f2eb1aeb371fe1643414f06618dbe031979f (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/ruby/rexml (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/rexml/CVE-2024-49761.yml (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00011.html (opens in a new tab)
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20241227-0004 (opens in a new tab)
- ruby-lang.org/en/news/2024/10/28/redos-rexml-cve-2024-49761 (opens in a new tab)