A template injection flaw was found in Ansible where a user's controller internal templating operations may remove the unsafe designation from template data. This issue could allow an attacker to use a specially crafted file to introduce templating injection when supplying templating data. This vulnerability has been classified as high severity with a CVSS score of 7.1.
Organizations using vulnerable versions of Ansible should be aware that attackers may leverage this vulnerability to alter configurations or execute arbitrary code within the Ansible environment. The potential risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive data and disruption of services.
The urgency for defenders is critical, as exploitation could lead to severe impacts depending on the privileges of the Ansible execution context. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
This vulnerability affects various versions of Ansible, and while no public exploit has been confirmed, the low attack complexity implies that exploitation is feasible. Organizations are encouraged to monitor their environments closely for any suspicious activity related to Ansible.
As of now, this vulnerability is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating that there have been no confirmed active exploitation incidents reported.
Vulnerability Details
The CVE-2023-5764 vulnerability allows for potential template injection in Ansible. The flaw could allow attackers to manipulate template data by removing safety designations. The severity is rated high with a CVSS score of 7.1 from Red Hat and a score of 7.8 from NVD. The attack vector is local, and it requires low privileges and no user interaction.
The affected systems include various versions of Ansible, such as versions prior to 2.14.12 and versions ranging from 2.15.0 to 2.15.6, as well as specific betas and release candidates of version 2.16.0.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-5764 stems from improper handling of template data within Ansible’s internal templating engine. The attack vector is local, meaning an attacker must have access to the system where Ansible is running. The attack complexity is low, making it easier for potential exploitation.
The required privileges to exploit this vulnerability are low, as it can be executed by any user with access to the Ansible environment. No user interaction is required, which increases the likelihood of successful exploitation.
The confidentiality and integrity impacts are rated high, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to the exposure of sensitive data and unauthorized modifications to configurations. Availability impact is not applicable in this case.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive information, potential data corruption, and disruption of services. The blast radius is significant because Ansible is widely used for automation, and exploitation could affect multiple systems and processes across an organization.
Organizations should assess their deployment risk, especially those with elevated privileges in their Ansible environments. Given the high severity of this vulnerability, organizations should address it in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerable versions of Ansible include all versions prior to 2.14.12, as well as versions 2.15.0 through 2.15.6. Additionally, version 2.16.0 and its beta and release candidate versions are affected.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should upgrade to the latest patched version of Ansible to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. The specific version to upgrade to is 2.14.12 or later. If immediate patching is not possible, organizations should consider implementing configuration hardening measures to restrict access to Ansible where feasible.
Additionally, network controls should be enforced to limit access to the Ansible environment, and continuous security testing should be employed to identify and rectify similar vulnerabilities in the future. Regular monitoring for unusual activity in Ansible logs is also recommended.
Organizations should validate remediation effectiveness through continuous security testing that exercises the patched code path.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring for behavioral anomalies in the Ansible execution environment is crucial. Log indicators such as unusual commands or unauthorized access attempts should be considered red flags. Network signatures that detect unauthorized file uploads or modifications may also be beneficial in identifying potential exploitation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2023-5764 is indicative of the growing importance of secure coding practices in the development of automation tools like Ansible. As organizations increasingly rely on these tools for critical operations, the risk associated with vulnerabilities can escalate dramatically.
This vulnerability represents a pattern of failures in input validation and data handling, which should prompt security teams to reassess their development and deployment practices. Organizations are encouraged to learn from this incident to bolster their security posture.
Strategically, teams must prioritize integrating security into the development lifecycle, focusing on preventative measures to mitigate similar vulnerabilities in the future. For those looking to enhance their security frameworks, exploring penetration testing methodologies can provide valuable insights into identifying and remediating vulnerabilities early in the lifecycle.
Additionally, adopting a holistic approach to security, including regular reviews of security policies and employee training can significantly reduce the risk of vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-5764 being exploited in the wild.
For more detailed guidance on securing your Ansible deployments, organizations can refer to vulnerability management programs that can aid in establishing a robust security framework.
Known Exploitation Timeline
As CVE-2023-5764 has not been included in the KEV catalog, there are currently no known exploitation incidents associated with this vulnerability.
EPSS Risk Context
The EPSS score for CVE-2023-5764 is 0.000710000, indicating a relatively low probability of exploitation based on historical data. Organizations should still remain vigilant, as the potential impact of exploitation could be significant.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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