CVE-2014-4966: Ansible Remote Code Execution
Summary
CVE-2014-4966: Ansible before 1.6.7 does not prevent inventory data with "{{" and "lookup" substrings, and does not prevent remote data with "{{" substrings, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) crafted looku... Affects ansible across 2 version ranges.
< 1.6.7
< 62a1295a3e08cb6c3e9f1b2a1e6e5dcaeab32527
Fixed in 62a1295a3e08cb6c3e9f1b2a1e6e5dcaeab32527. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- ansible · Debian:11
The same CVE-2014-4966 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
Ansible is an open-source automation tool that allows users to automate IT tasks such as configuration management, application deployment, and orchestration. It uses a simple and human-readable language called YAML to define automation tasks. Ansible is widely used in the industry due to its simplicity and scalability. However, versions before 1.6.7 are vulnerable to remote code execution.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in Ansible versions before 1.6.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability arises from the lack of prevention mechanisms for inventory data and remote data containing specific substrings. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious lookup('pipe') calls or providing crafted Jinja2 data. By leveraging these vulnerabilities, an attacker can execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or further compromise of the system.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 14.5.0 as of 22 Oct 2026
pip install --upgrade "ansible==14.5.0"Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
62a1295a3e08cb6c3e9f1b2a1e6e5dcaeab32527
This is the first release that contains the fix.
pip install --upgrade "ansible==62a1295a3e08cb6c3e9f1b2a1e6e5dcaeab32527"Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If upgrading to the latest version is not immediately feasible, users can implement the following workaround to mitigate the risk of remote code execution:
- Avoid using inventory data or remote data that contains the substrings "{{", "lookup", or "{{".
- Regularly review and sanitize inventory data and remote data to remove any potentially malicious content.
By following these steps, users can reduce the likelihood of exploitation until a proper upgrade can be performed.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in Ansible versions before 1.6.7 allows remote code execution, which can lead to unauthorized access, data theft, or further compromise of the system. It is crucial to upgrade to the latest version of Ansible or apply the provided workaround to mitigate the risk. For more information and assistance, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for ansible →
FAQ
Ansible is an open-source automation tool used for IT tasks such as configuration management, application deployment, and orchestration.
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of Ansible, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or further compromise of the system.
To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade to Ansible version 1.6.7 or later. This version includes the necessary prevention mechanisms to mitigate the remote code execution vulnerability.
If upgrading to the latest version is not immediately feasible, users can avoid using inventory data or remote data that contains specific substrings and regularly review and sanitize their data to remove potentially malicious content.
For more information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the official advisory provided by the Ansible project. Additionally, you can reach out to info@devnack.com for further support on vulnerability remediation.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for ansible.
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