Information Disclosure Vulnerability in Ansible Templating
Summary
ALPINE-CVE-2019-10156: A flaw was discovered in the way Ansible templating was implemented in versions before 2.6.18, 2.7.12 and 2.8.2, causing the possibility of information disclosure through unexpected variable substitution. Affects ansible versions < 2.8.2-r0. Fixed in 2.8.2-r0. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
Ansible is an open-source automation tool that simplifies the management of IT infrastructure by automating tasks such as configuration management, application deployment, and orchestration. It uses a simple language (YAML) to describe automation jobs, making it accessible for users. However, certain versions of Ansible have a vulnerability in their templating system that can lead to unintended information disclosure.
Vulnerability Detail
A flaw was discovered in the way Ansible templating was implemented in versions before 2.6.18, 2.7.12, and 2.8.2. This flaw allows for unexpected variable substitution, which can lead to the disclosure of sensitive information contained within variables. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain access to data that should remain confidential, potentially leading to further security breaches.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2.8.2-r0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apk add --upgrade ansibleTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If immediate updating is not feasible, consider restricting access to the Ansible playbooks and templates to trusted users only, thereby minimizing the risk of exploitation until the package can be updated.
Conclusion
The Ansible templating vulnerability poses a significant risk of information disclosure through unintended variable substitution. Users are strongly encouraged to update to the patched versions to secure their systems. For those unable to update immediately, implementing access restrictions can serve as a temporary mitigation strategy.
See every vulnerability recorded for ansible →
FAQ
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 5.4, indicating a moderate level of risk.
Versions of Ansible before 2.6.18, 2.7.12, and 2.8.2 are affected by this vulnerability.
You can use Vulert to monitor and alert in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without any signup.
The potential consequences include unauthorized access to sensitive information, which could lead to further security breaches and data leaks.
Yes, restricting access to Ansible playbooks and templates can help mitigate the risk until an update can be applied.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for ansible.
