REXML is an XML toolkit for Ruby. The REXML gems from 3.3.3 to 3.4.1 has a DoS vulnerability when parsing XML containing multiple XML declarations. If you need to parse untrusted XMLs, you may be impacted to these vulnerabilities. The REXML gem 3.4.2 or later include the patches to fix these vulnerabilities.
The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.
Mitigation of resource exhaustion attacks requires that the target system either:
The first of these solutions is an issue in itself though, since it may allow attackers to prevent the use of the system by a particular valid user. If the attacker impersonates the valid user, they may be able to prevent the user from accessing the server in question.
The second solution is simply difficult to effectively institute – and even when properly done, it does not provide a full solution. It simply makes the attack require more resources on the part of the attacker.