Man-in-the-Middle Vulnerability in Ansible: CVE-2013-2233
Summary
CVE-2013-2233: Ansible before 1.2.1 makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks by leveraging failure to cache SSH host keys. Affects ansible versions < 1.3.4+dfsg-1. Fixed in 1.3.4+dfsg-1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Ansible is an open-source automation tool that simplifies the management of IT infrastructure by allowing users to automate tasks such as configuration management, application deployment, and orchestration. It utilizes SSH for secure communication between nodes, making it essential for users to ensure the integrity of SSH host keys. The vulnerability CVE-2013-2233 affects Ansible versions prior to 1.2.1, where the failure to cache SSH host keys can lead to man-in-the-middle attacks, compromising the security of the automated processes.
Vulnerability Detail
CVE-2013-2233 is a security vulnerability in Ansible that arises from its inability to cache SSH host keys. This oversight allows remote attackers to intercept communications between the Ansible control node and managed nodes, potentially leading to unauthorized access and manipulation of sensitive data. The vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous. The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 7.4, indicating a high severity level.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1.3.4+dfsg-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade ansibleTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can manually verify and cache SSH host keys before executing Ansible commands. This can be done by connecting to each managed node via SSH and accepting the host key when prompted. However, this is not a permanent solution and upgrading is strongly recommended.
Conclusion
CVE-2013-2233 is a significant vulnerability in Ansible that poses a risk of man-in-the-middle attacks due to improper handling of SSH host keys. Users are advised to upgrade to the latest version to mitigate this risk and ensure the security of their automated processes.
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FAQ
CVE-2013-2233 is a vulnerability in Ansible that allows for man-in-the-middle attacks due to the failure to cache SSH host keys.
You can check your Ansible version by running 'ansible --version' in your terminal. If it is below 1.3.4+dfsg-1, it is affected.
The main risk is that an attacker could intercept and manipulate communications between the Ansible control node and managed nodes, leading to unauthorized access and data breaches.
Yes, Vulert can monitor and alert you in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software using just a manifest file like package-lock.json.
You can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
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