Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: Error running Metasploit Framework on Mac OS X Yosemite

Error running Metasploit Framework on Mac OS X Yosemite

Quick Answer: The issue is caused by the Psych library not supporting mapping values in the database.yml file. Update to a newer version of Ruby or use a different YAML parser.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
  3. 🎯 Final Words

The error 'mapping values are not allowed in this context at line 3 column 11' occurs when Metasploit Framework attempts to parse its configuration database.yml file. This issue affects users who have installed Metasploit Framework on Mac OS X Yosemite running Ruby 2.1.6.

This frustrating error can be resolved by updating the Psych library, which is used to parse the database.yml file. By following these steps, users can resolve this issue and continue using Metasploit Framework.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the Psych library has a known issue with parsing database.yml files in Ruby 2.1.6. This version of Ruby is no longer supported by the Psych library, leading to compatibility issues.
  • An alternative cause could be a corrupted or malformed database.yml file, which may also require manual intervention to resolve.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Updating the Psych Library

  1. Step 1: Open the Terminal application on your Mac OS X Yosemite system.
  2. Step 2: Update the RVM (Ruby Version Manager) by running the command `rvm update` in the Terminal.
  3. Step 3: Install the latest version of the Psych library using `gem install psych -S`.
  4. Step 4: Restart Metasploit Framework by running `msfconsole` and verifying that it runs without errors.

Manually Editing the database.yml File

  1. Step 1: Open the database.yml file in a text editor, such as TextEdit or Sublime Text.
  2. Step 2: Locate the section of the file that is causing the error and remove any lines that contain mapping values.
  3. Step 3: Save the changes to the database.yml file and restart Metasploit Framework by running `msfconsole`.
  4. Step 4: Verify that the issue has been resolved and Metasploit Framework runs without errors.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, users can resolve the 'mapping values are not allowed in this context at line 3 column 11' error and continue using Metasploit Framework on Mac OS X Yosemite running Ruby 2.1.6.

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