CVE-2018-16837 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2018-16837, a high-severity vulnerability in Ansible that exposes sensitive credentials to unauthorized users. Find mitigation steps and necessary updates here.
The Ansible "User" module inappropriately exposes sensitive data passed as parameters to the ssh-keygen command, potentially revealing credentials in clear text to unauthorized users.
Understanding CVE-2018-16837
What is CVE-2018-16837?
CVE-2018-16837 is a vulnerability in the Ansible "User" module that can lead to the exposure of sensitive credentials when used with the ssh-keygen command.
The Impact of CVE-2018-16837
The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.8, indicating a high severity level with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-16837
Vulnerability Description
The Ansible "User" module exposes any data passed as a parameter to the ssh-keygen command, potentially revealing sensitive credentials in clear text to unauthorized users.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Ansible
- Vendor: [UNKNOWN]
- Versions affected: n/a
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attack Vector: LOCAL
- Attack Complexity: LOW
- Privileges Required: NONE
- User Interaction: REQUIRED
- Scope: UNCHANGED
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Avoid passing sensitive data as parameters to the ssh-keygen command
- Monitor process lists for unauthorized access
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement secure coding practices to avoid inadvertent data exposure
- Regularly update Ansible and related components
Patching and Updates
- Apply security updates provided by vendors