CVE-2019-14858 : Security Advisory and Response

A weakness has been discovered in Ansible engine versions 2.x to 2.8 and Ansible Tower versions 3.x to 3.5 that can lead to data exposure due to a module parameter handling issue.

Understanding CVE-2019-14858

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Ansible that could result in the unintended exposure of sensitive data.

What is CVE-2019-14858?

The vulnerability arises when incorrect parameter names are provided to a module with sub parameters marked as no_log, causing the task to fail before the no_log options can conceal the data.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14858

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.3, indicating a high severity issue with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14858

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

When an incorrect parameter name is passed to an Ansible module with sub parameters marked as no_log, data in the sub parameter fields may be exposed, especially at higher verbosity levels.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Ansible
Vendor: Red Hat
Affected Versions:
Ansible Engine: 2.x up to 2.8
Ansible Tower: 3.x up to 3.5

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs due to a failure in processing no_log options in sub parameters when incorrect parameter names are provided, leading to data exposure.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-14858 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Ansible to patched versions to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid passing incorrect parameter names to modules with no_log sub parameters.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update Ansible installations.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit potential impact.

Patching and Updates

Apply the following patches:

Ansible Engine: Update to version 2.8 or above.
Ansible Tower: Update to version 3.5 or above.