CVE-2021-3583 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about the CVE-2021-3583 vulnerability in Ansible that allows attackers to perform command injection and disclose sensitive information. Find out about the impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
A flaw in Ansible can lead to template injection, allowing attackers to perform command injection and disclose sensitive information. This article provides details on the vulnerability, its impact, technical description, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps.
Understanding CVE-2021-3583
This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2021-3583.
What is CVE-2021-3583?
CVE-2021-3583 is a vulnerability in Ansible that exposes a user's controller to template injection. Attackers can leverage this flaw for command injection, potentially compromising confidentiality and integrity.
The Impact of CVE-2021-3583
The vulnerability poses a significant threat to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information due to the potential for command injection through template manipulation.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-3583
In this section, we explore the technical aspects of CVE-2021-3583.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from improper handling of multi-line YAML strings containing template characters, enabling attackers to execute commands through template injection.
Affected Systems and Versions
The flaw impacts Ansible versions, including ansible_tower 3.7 and ansible_engine 2.9.23, leaving them susceptible to the template injection vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
By manipulating facts within templates placed in multi-line YAML strings, attackers can inject commands to disclose sensitive information.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section outlines steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-3583.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to update their Ansible installations promptly to eliminate the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing secure coding practices, such as input validation and output encoding, can enhance overall system resilience against similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Regularly monitor and apply security patches and updates for Ansible to address known vulnerabilities and protect system integrity.