// For flags

CVE-2018-16859

ansible: become password logged in plaintext when used with PowerShell on Windows

Severity Score

4.4
*CVSS v3

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

Execution of Ansible playbooks on Windows platforms with PowerShell ScriptBlock logging and Module logging enabled can allow for 'become' passwords to appear in EventLogs in plaintext. A local user with administrator privileges on the machine can view these logs and discover the plaintext password. Ansible Engine 2.8 and older are believed to be vulnerable.

Ejecucion de playbooks Ansible en plataformas Windows con PowerShell ScriptBlock logging y Module logging activados puede permitir que aparezcan contraseñas "become" en EventLogs en texto plano. Un usuario local con privilegios de administrador en la máquina puede visualizar estos registros y descubrir la contraseña en texto plano. Se cree que Ansible Engine en versiones 2.8 y anteriores es vulnerable.

Execution of Ansible content on Microsoft's Windows platform with Powershell 5 or higher may disclose sensitive execution details including 'become' passwords, Ansible module arguments, and return values via Powershell's 'suspicious scriptblock logging' feature, which is enabled by default. The details are logged to the Powershell Operational log, which is visible to all authenticated users by default.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
None
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Partial
Integrity
None
Availability
None
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2018-09-11 CVE Reserved
  • 2018-11-29 CVE Published
  • 2023-03-08 EPSS Updated
  • 2024-08-05 CVE Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Redhat
Search vendor "Redhat"
 Ansible Engine
Search vendor "Redhat" for product "Ansible Engine"
 < 2.5.13
Search vendor "Redhat" for product "Ansible Engine" and version " < 2.5.13"
-
Affected
Redhat
Search vendor "Redhat"
 Ansible Engine
Search vendor "Redhat" for product "Ansible Engine"
 >= 2.6.0 < 2.6.10
Search vendor "Redhat" for product "Ansible Engine" and version " >= 2.6.0 < 2.6.10"
-
Affected
Redhat
Search vendor "Redhat"
 Ansible Engine
Search vendor "Redhat" for product "Ansible Engine"
 >= 2.7.0 < 2.7.4
Search vendor "Redhat" for product "Ansible Engine" and version " >= 2.7.0 < 2.7.4"
-
Affected
Redhat
Search vendor "Redhat"
 Ansible Engine
Search vendor "Redhat" for product "Ansible Engine"
 >= 2.7.5 <= 2.8
Search vendor "Redhat" for product "Ansible Engine" and version " >= 2.7.5 <= 2.8"
-
Affected