# CVE-2019-11068: Nokogiri libxslt protection mechanism bypass via crafted URL

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-11068-nokogiri-libxslt-protection-mechanism-bypass-via-crafted-url  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-05-13. Updated: 2026-06-09  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2019-11068 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2022-05-13

Nokogiri, a popular Ruby library for processing XML and HTML, is vulnerable to a security bypass due to a flaw in its underlying libxslt component. An attacker can use specially crafted web addresses (URLs) to bypass security checks that normally restrict file access. This could allow an unauthorized user to read or write sensitive files on the system, potentially leading to a full system compromise or data theft.

Technologies: [Gnome Libxslt](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/libxslt), [nokogiri (RubyGems)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/nokogiri). Vendors: [Gnome](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/gnome), [RubyGems](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rubygems).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2019-11068 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2019-11068 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2019-11068?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 13 May 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Gnome Libxslt <= 1.1.33; nokogiri (RubyGems) < 1.10.3, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.10.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2019-11068?** Yes. nokogiri (RubyGems): upgrade to 1.10.3 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2019-11068 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2019-11068?** Check whether you run Gnome Libxslt or nokogiri (RubyGems) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- nokogiri (RubyGems): upgrade to 1.10.3 or later

  ```sh
  bundle update nokogiri
  ```


## Technical details

A vulnerability exists in libxslt (through version 1.1.33), a dependency of the Nokogiri Ruby gem, where the security functions `xsltCheckRead` and `xsltCheckWrite` fail to properly handle error codes. Specifically, these routines permit access when they receive a -1 error code. An attacker can provide a specially crafted URL that triggers this -1 return value without being flagged as invalid, effectively bypassing the library's security sandbox. This allows for arbitrary file read or write operations depending on the context of the library's use. The issue is resolved in Nokogiri version 1.10.3 by updating the bundled libxslt or applying relevant patches.

## Affected products

- Nokogiri Nokogiri < 1.10.3
- GNOME libxslt <= 1.1.33

## Identifiers

- CVE-2019-11068
- GHSA-qxcg-xjjg-66mj

## Timeline

- 2019-04-10: disclosed: Initial NVD publication
- 2019-04-15: advisory: Debian security advisory released
- 2022-05-13: advisory: GitHub Advisory Database entry published

## References

- [https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxslt/commit/e03553605b45c88f0b4b2980adfbbb8f6fca2fd6](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxslt/commit/e03553605b45c88f0b4b2980adfbbb8f6fca2fd6)
- [https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/04/msg00016.html](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/04/msg00016.html)
- [https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2019-5072832.html](https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2019-5072832.html)
- [http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00048.html](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00048.html)
- [http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00052.html](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00052.html)

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