lynx doesn't properly sanitize user input and exposes database password to unauthorized users

published 2018-01-10 8 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also GHSA-94cq-7ccq-cmcm , EUVD-2018-0157

cvss: 7.8; version 3.0, NVD
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 0.5%; EPSS 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 44%
public exploits: 0; none known

The lynx gem before 1.0.0 for Ruby places the configured password on command lines, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by listing processes.

Patch / fix

fixed in 2

rubygems lynx 1.0.0
lynx_project lynx 1.0.0

Exploit prediction

0.52% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 44% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-09).

Exploits and checks

openwall.com http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/07/23 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
openwall.com http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/17/5 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
vapid.dhs.org http://www.vapid.dhs.org/advisories/lynx-0.2.0.html referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
NVD	3.0	7.8	CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	2.0	2.1	AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
GitHub	3.0	7.8	CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected packages

ecosystem	package	affected	fixed in
rubygems	lynx	<1.0.0	1.0.0

Classification

Weakness

CWE-255 Credentials Management Errors
CWE-200 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor

References

openwall.com /lists/oss-security/2014/07/07/23
mailing-list, web, exploit, third-party-advisory
openwall.com /lists/oss-security/2014/07/17/5
mailing-list, web, exploit, third-party-advisory
vapid.dhs.org /advisories/lynx-0.2.0.html
web, exploit, third-party-advisory
github.com /panthomakos/lynx/issues/3
web, third-party-advisory
nvd.nist.gov /vuln/detail/CVE-2014-5002
advisory
github.com /panthomakos/lynx
package
github.com /rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/lynx/CVE-2014-5002.yml
web

Sources

CVE List CVE-2014-5002
GitHub Advisory GHSA-94cq-7ccq-cmcm
NVD CVE-2014-5002

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary