CVE-2020-10729 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A flaw in Ansible's random value generation could lead to password exposure in versions before 2.9.6.

Understanding CVE-2020-10729

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Ansible that could result in the exposure of passwords due to insufficiently random values.

What is CVE-2020-10729?

The flaw in Ansible's random value generation can cause passwords to be exposed when two random password lookups of the same length generate equal values.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10729

The highest threat posed by this vulnerability is the potential exposure of all passwords at once for a specific file within affected Ansible Engine versions.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10729

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the use of insufficiently random values in Ansible, leading to password exposure due to equal values generated during password lookups.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Ansible
Vendor: n/a
Vulnerable Version: ansible-engine 2.9.6 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs when two random password lookups of the same length produce equal values, exposing all passwords for the file.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-10729 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Ansible Engine to version 2.9.6 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or unusual activities on affected systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong password policies and regular password changes.
Conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments periodically.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Ansible and related vendors to apply patches promptly.