CVE-2020-10684 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2020-10684, assigned by Red Hat, pertains to a vulnerability in Ansible Engine versions 2.7.x, 2.8.x, and 2.9.x. The flaw allows an attacker to overwrite ansible_facts, potentially leading to privilege escalation or code injection.

Understanding CVE-2020-10684

This CVE identifies a critical issue in Ansible Engine that affects various versions, potentially enabling malicious actors to manipulate critical data.

What is CVE-2020-10684?

The vulnerability in Ansible Engine versions 2.7.x, 2.8.x, and 2.9.x allows attackers to alter ansible_facts, leading to potential privilege escalation or code injection.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10684

The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in privilege escalation or unauthorized code injection, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10684

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Ansible Engine versions 2.7.x, 2.8.x, and 2.9.x enables attackers to overwrite ansible_facts, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or code injection.

Affected Systems and Versions

Red Hat Ansible versions 2.7.x prior to 2.7.17 are affected.
Red Hat Ansible versions 2.8.x prior to 2.8.9 are affected.
Red Hat Ansible versions 2.9.x prior to 2.9.6 are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

By using ansible_facts as a subkey of itself and promoting it to a variable when inject is enabled, attackers can overwrite ansible_facts, leading to potential privilege escalation or code injection.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-10684 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Ansible Engine to versions 2.7.17, 2.8.9, or 2.9.6 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unauthorized changes to ansible_facts or critical system data.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential privilege escalation attacks.
Regularly review and update security configurations to address emerging threats.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Red Hat promptly to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.