CVE-2021-3681 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-3681, a security flaw in Ansible Galaxy Collections allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information. Find out the impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
A security flaw has been identified in Ansible Galaxy Collections that allows sensitive information, such as API keys and secrets, to be exposed when manually building collections. This CVE, assigned the ID CVE-2021-3681, presents a risk to users who download or install affected collections.
Understanding CVE-2021-3681
This section provides an overview of the vulnerability and its impact on Ansible Galaxy Collections.
What is CVE-2021-3681?
The flaw in Ansible Galaxy Collections allows unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including API keys and secrets in verbose output.
The Impact of CVE-2021-3681
The vulnerability enables anyone who downloads or installs the affected collections to access confidential data, posing a significant security risk.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-3681
Explore the technical aspects of the CVE to understand how the vulnerability manifests in affected systems.
Vulnerability Description
When manual collections are built, files not excluded via 'build_ignore' list are included in the .tar.gz file, exposing sensitive information.
Affected Systems and Versions
CVE-2021-3681 affects Ansible version 3.3.0 in Galaxy Collections, putting users at risk of information disclosure.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by downloading or installing the affected collections to access sensitive data.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn how to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-3681 and safeguard your systems from potential exploitation.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users should avoid downloading or using affected collections and revoke any exposed API keys or secrets immediately.
Long-Term Security Practices
Adopt security best practices such as regular security audits, secure coding practices, and limiting access to sensitive information.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that you update Ansible Galaxy Collections to a secure version and leverage official patches to address the vulnerability effectively.