Ansible 2.9.9 Vulnerabilities: Risks And Mitigation

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Ansible 2.9.9 Vulnerabilities: Risks and Mitigation

Hey guys! Let's dive into a critical topic today: the vulnerabilities found in ansible-2.9.9.tar.gz. This version, while widely used, has some security concerns that we need to address. This article will break down the 16 vulnerabilities, highlighting the risks and how to mitigate them. It’s crucial to understand these issues to keep your systems secure and running smoothly.

Understanding the Vulnerabilities in Ansible 2.9.9

When we talk about vulnerabilities in Ansible 2.9.9, we're not just looking at minor bugs. These are security flaws that can be exploited to compromise your systems. With a highest severity rating of 7.5, it’s evident that these vulnerabilities pose significant risks. Let's get into the specifics and see what's at stake. We'll explore each CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) in detail, so you know exactly what you're dealing with.

Vulnerable Library Overview

The vulnerable library we're focusing on is ansible-2.9.9.tar.gz. Ansible itself is a powerful IT automation tool, but this particular version has some weak spots. The library’s home page can be found at https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/00/5d/e10b83e0e6056dbd5b4809b451a191395175a57e3175ce04e35d9c5fc2a0/ansible-2.9.9.tar.gz, and it's typically located in your project’s /requirements.txt file. The specific path to the vulnerable library is /tmp/ws-ua_20251027213049_JCWSUJ/python_PKCFLS/202510272130501/env/lib/python3.9/site-packages/ansible-2.9.9.dist-info. Knowing this helps you pinpoint exactly where the problems lie.

Key Findings: A Detailed Breakdown

There are 16 identified vulnerabilities, ranging from high to low severity. Let's break down some of the most critical ones:

  • CVE-2021-20228 (High Severity - 7.5): This flaw exposes sensitive information due to a lack of default masking and the no_log feature failing in certain scenarios. An attacker could potentially obtain confidential data. This high-severity vulnerability needs immediate attention. Sensitive info isn't masked by default and isn't protected by the no_log feature when using the sub-option feature of the basic.py module. This allows attackers to obtain sensitive information, making confidentiality the biggest threat.

  • CVE-2022-3697 (High Severity - 7.5): This vulnerability involves insecure handling of the tower_callback parameter in the amazon.aws.ec2_instance module, leading to password leaks in logs. This can give attackers access to critical systems. This high-severity vulnerability occurs when using the tower_callback parameter from the amazon.aws.ec2_instance module. The module handles the parameter insecurely, causing passwords to leak in the logs.

  • CVE-2020-1734 (High Severity - 7.4): This flaw allows arbitrary command execution through the pipe lookup plugin due to insufficient escaping of variables. An attacker could run unauthorized commands by overwriting Ansible facts. A critical high-severity issue lies within the pipe lookup plugin. By overwriting Ansible facts, attackers can run arbitrary commands. This happens because the plugin uses subprocess.Popen() with shell=True, and the variable isn't escaped by the quote plugin.

  • CVE-2020-14365 (High Severity - 7.1): GPG signatures are ignored when installing packages using the dnf module, even when disable_gpg_check is set to False. This can lead to the installation of malicious packages. This high-severity flaw occurs when installing packages using the dnf module. GPG signatures are ignored, even with disable_gpg_check set to False. This means malicious packages can be installed, leading to arbitrary code execution via package installation scripts.

  • CVE-2021-3583 (High Severity - 7.1): A template injection vulnerability exists through facts used in templates, potentially leading to command injection and sensitive information disclosure. This high-severity issue involves template injection. Users putting templates in multi-line YAML strings are vulnerable if the facts being handled don't routinely include special template characters. This flaw can lead to command injection, disclosing sensitive information.

  • CVE-2023-5115 (Medium Severity - 6.3): This absolute path traversal vulnerability can allow attackers to overwrite files outside the extraction path using a symlink in a malicious Ansible role. This medium-severity vulnerability involves an absolute path traversal attack. Attackers can craft malicious Ansible roles that, when executed, use a symlink to overwrite files outside the extraction path.

  • CVE-2020-14332 (Medium Severity - 5.5): Sensitive data is not properly neutralized in check mode, potentially exposing it to unauthorized users. This medium-severity flaw occurs when using module_args. Tasks executed with check mode (--check-mode) don't properly neutralize sensitive data exposed in the event data, allowing unauthorized users to read it.

  • CVE-2021-20180 (Medium Severity - 5.5): Credentials can be disclosed in console logs when using the bitbucket_pipeline_variable module, potentially leading to the theft of Bitbucket Pipeline credentials. This medium-severity issue involves credentials being disclosed in the console log by default when using the bitbucket_pipeline_variable module. This can lead to the theft of Bitbucket Pipeline credentials.

  • CVE-2021-3620 (Medium Severity - 5.5): Sensitive user credentials can be disclosed in traceback error messages in the ansible-connection module. This medium-severity vulnerability lies in Ansible Engine's ansible-connection module. Sensitive information, like user credentials, is disclosed by default in the traceback error message.

  • CVE-2024-11079 (Medium Severity - 5.5): Unsafe content protections can be bypassed using the hostvars object, leading to potential arbitrary code execution. This medium-severity flaw allows attackers to bypass unsafe content protections using the hostvars object to reference and execute templated content. This can lead to arbitrary code execution if remote data or module outputs are improperly templated within playbooks.

  • CVE-2024-8775 (Medium Severity - 5.5): Sensitive information in Ansible Vault files can be exposed in plaintext if no_log: true is not set when loading vaulted variables. This medium-severity issue involves sensitive information stored in Ansible Vault files being exposed in plaintext. This happens when using tasks like include_vars to load vaulted variables without setting no_log: true, causing sensitive data to be printed in the playbook output or logs.

  • CVE-2020-10744 (Medium Severity - 5.0): An incomplete fix for CVE-2020-1733 can lead to a race condition on systems using ACLs and FUSE filesystems. This medium-severity vulnerability is an incomplete fix for CVE-2020-1733. The fix doesn't prevent the race condition on systems using ACLs and FUSE filesystems.

  • CVE-2020-14330 (Medium Severity - 5.0): Sensitive data can be exposed in logs and outputs when using the uri module. This medium-severity flaw is an Improper Output Neutralization for Logs issue found in Ansible when using the uri module. Sensitive data is exposed to content and JSON output.

  • CVE-2020-1753 (Medium Severity - 5.0): Sensitive parameters are passed to kubectl from the command line, exposing passwords and tokens. This medium-severity vulnerability occurs when managing Kubernetes using the k8s module. Sensitive parameters are passed to kubectl from the command line, not using an environment variable or an input configuration file.

  • CVE-2020-1738 (Low Severity - 3.9): If the use parameter is not specified in the package or service module, a malicious user can select the module. This low-severity flaw occurs when the use parameter is not specified in the package or service module. If a previous task is executed with a malicious user, the module sent can be selected by the attacker using the Ansible facts file.

  • CVE-2020-1736 (Low Severity - 2.2): Files moved using the atomic_move primitive can have world-readable permissions set, potentially disclosing sensitive data. This low-severity issue involves files moved using the atomic_move primitive. The file mode can't be specified, which sets the destination files world-readable if the destination file doesn't exist.

Understanding the Impact

The impact of these vulnerabilities ranges from information disclosure to arbitrary command execution. A successful exploit could lead to:

  • Data breaches
  • System compromise
  • Unauthorized access
  • Service disruption

These are serious consequences, so let's talk about how to protect your systems.

Remediation and Mitigation Strategies

So, what can we do about these vulnerabilities? The good news is that there are several steps you can take to mitigate the risks.

Upgrade Ansible

The most straightforward solution for many of these vulnerabilities is to upgrade your Ansible version. Many of the listed CVEs have fixes available in later versions of Ansible or ansible-core. Keeping your Ansible installation up-to-date is crucial for maintaining a secure environment. Upgrading ensures you have the latest security patches and improvements.

For example, CVE-2020-14365 is fixed in version 2.9.12, while CVE-2021-3583 is resolved in ansible-core-2.11.2rc1. Always check the specific CVE details to determine the appropriate version to upgrade to. The table above provides suggested fixes for each vulnerability, which often involve upgrading to a specific version. For example, CVE-2020-1734 is resolved in Ansible versions 2.7.17, 2.8.9, and 2.9.6.

Implement Security Best Practices

Beyond upgrading, implementing general security best practices can significantly reduce your risk. These include:

  • Using no_log: true: This prevents sensitive information from being printed in logs and outputs. Always use this when handling passwords, tokens, and other secrets.
  • Securing Vault Files: Ensure your Ansible Vault files are properly encrypted and access is restricted. Vault files are crucial for storing sensitive information, so protect them well.
  • Limiting User Permissions: Apply the principle of least privilege, granting users only the necessary permissions. This reduces the potential damage from a compromised account.
  • Regular Audits: Conduct regular security audits of your playbooks and infrastructure. Audits help identify vulnerabilities and misconfigurations before they can be exploited.

Specific Mitigation Steps

For certain vulnerabilities, specific steps can be taken:

  • CVE-2022-3697: Avoid using the tower_callback parameter insecurely. If you must use it, ensure no sensitive information is exposed in logs.
  • CVE-2020-1734: Be cautious when using the pipe lookup plugin, ensuring variables are properly escaped to prevent command injection.
  • CVE-2021-3583: When using templates in multi-line YAML strings, ensure facts being handled routinely include special template characters or sanitize inputs to prevent template injection.

Long-Term Strategy

Consider these steps as part of a long-term strategy to keep your automation environment secure. This includes:

  • Staying informed about new vulnerabilities
  • Regularly reviewing and updating your security practices
  • Training your team on secure coding practices

Detailed Vulnerability Analysis

Let's dive deeper into some of these vulnerabilities to understand the risks and remediation steps more clearly.

CVE-2021-20228: Sensitive Information Exposure

This high-severity vulnerability, with a CVSS score of 7.5, exposes sensitive information in Ansible Engine 2.9.18. The core issue is that sensitive data isn't masked by default and isn't protected by the no_log feature when using the sub-option feature of the basic.py module. This can lead to attackers gaining unauthorized access to confidential data.

Impact: The primary threat is to confidentiality. Attackers can potentially read sensitive data, such as passwords, API keys, and other secrets, leading to further system compromise.

Suggested Fix: Upgrade to a version where this flaw is addressed. While the provided information doesn't specify a fixed version, it’s crucial to check for updates and apply the necessary patches.

CVE-2022-3697: Password Leak in Logs

This high-severity vulnerability, also with a CVSS score of 7.5, affects Ansible when using the tower_callback parameter from the amazon.aws.ec2_instance module. The module handles this parameter insecurely, causing passwords to leak in the logs.

Impact: Attackers can exploit this flaw to obtain passwords, potentially gaining unauthorized access to AWS EC2 instances and other resources.

Suggested Fix: Upgrade to a version where this issue is resolved. Monitor the release notes for the specific version that includes the fix.

CVE-2020-1734: Arbitrary Command Execution via Pipe Lookup Plugin

With a CVSS score of 7.4, this high-severity vulnerability allows arbitrary commands to be run due to insufficient escaping of variables in the pipe lookup plugin. When the plugin uses subprocess.Popen() with shell=True, an attacker can overwrite Ansible facts and execute unauthorized commands.

Impact: The impact is significant, as an attacker can run arbitrary commands, potentially leading to system compromise, data breaches, and other severe consequences.

Suggested Fix: Upgrade to Ansible versions 2.7.17, 2.8.9, or 2.9.6. These versions include the necessary fixes to prevent this vulnerability.

CVE-2020-14365: GPG Signature Bypass in DNF Module

This high-severity vulnerability, with a CVSS score of 7.1, occurs when installing packages using the dnf module. GPG signatures are ignored, even when disable_gpg_check is set to False. This allows malicious packages to be installed on the system.

Impact: Attackers can install malicious packages, leading to arbitrary code execution and system compromise. This can severely impact the integrity and availability of the system.

Suggested Fix: Upgrade to version 2.9.12, which addresses this flaw.

CVE-2021-3583: Template Injection Vulnerability

This high-severity vulnerability, also with a CVSS score of 7.1, involves template injection through facts used in templates. If users are putting templates in multi-line YAML strings and the facts being handled don't routinely include special template characters, attackers can inject commands.

Impact: This can lead to command injection, disclosing sensitive information and potentially compromising the entire system.

Suggested Fix: Upgrade to ansible-core-2.11.2rc1, which includes a fix for this vulnerability.

Conclusion

Addressing these vulnerabilities in Ansible 2.9.9 is critical for maintaining a secure and stable IT environment. By understanding the risks and implementing the appropriate mitigation strategies, you can protect your systems from potential attacks. Remember, staying informed, upgrading your software, and following security best practices are key to keeping your infrastructure safe. So, guys, let’s make sure we’re doing everything we can to secure our Ansible environments. Keep those systems patched, and stay vigilant!