CVE-2017-7550 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2017-7550, a vulnerability in Ansible versions 2.3.x before 2.3.3 and 2.4.x before 2.4.1 that allows unauthorized access to confidential data. Find mitigation steps and preventive measures here.
A vulnerability in Ansible versions 2.3.x before 2.3.3 and 2.4.x before 2.4.1 could allow malicious actors to access confidential data from remote hosts.
Understanding CVE-2017-7550
This CVE involves a security issue in Ansible that could lead to unauthorized data access.
What is CVE-2017-7550?
The vulnerability in Ansible versions 2.3.x before 2.3.3 and 2.4.x before 2.4.1 allows attackers to retrieve sensitive information from logs on a remote host by exploiting the way specific parameters are transmitted to the jenkins_plugin module.
The Impact of CVE-2017-7550
Exploiting this vulnerability could result in the unauthorized retrieval of confidential data from remote hosts, posing a risk to data security and privacy.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-7550
This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the mishandling of specific parameters in Ansible versions 2.3.x and 2.4.x, enabling unauthorized data access.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Ansible
- Vendor: Red Hat, Inc.
- Affected Versions: 2.3.x before 2.3.3, 2.4.x before 2.4.1
Exploitation Mechanism
Malicious individuals exploit the vulnerability by manipulating parameters to the jenkins_plugin module, allowing them to access confidential data from logs on a remote host.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2017-7550 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Ansible to versions 2.3.3 or 2.4.1 to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Avoid including passwords in the "params" argument to prevent unauthorized data access.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly monitor and audit logs for any unauthorized access.
- Educate users on secure coding practices and parameter handling to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that all systems running affected versions of Ansible are promptly patched with the latest updates to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.