CVE-2023-5764: Ansible core Ansible Template Injection Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-7j69-qfc3-2fq9
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CVSS 6.6
CWE-1336
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-5764 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.6) ansible template injection vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-1336: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine) affecting Ansible core libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves ansible template injection vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.16.1, 2.15.8, 2.14.12.

CVE-2023-5764 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-5764
GHSA Identifier GHSA-7j69-qfc3-2fq9
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.6
CWE Classification CWE-1336: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine
Affected Product Ansible core
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.6

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-5764

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Ansible core dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

ansible-core fixed: 2.16.1 
pip install ansible-core>=2.16.1
ansible-core fixed: 2.15.8 
pip install ansible-core>=2.15.8
ansible-core fixed: 2.14.12 
pip install ansible-core>=2.14.12
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show ansible-core

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2023-5764, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show ansible-core

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Ansible core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.16.1), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show ansible-core command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-1336: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine, where the product uses a template engine to insert or process externally-influenced input, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements or syntax that can be interpreted as template expressions or other code directives when processed by the engine. In Ansible core, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

A template injection flaw was found in Ansible where a user's controller internal templating operations may remove the unsafe designation from template data. This issue could allow an attacker to use a specially crafted file to introduce templating injection when supplying templating data.

CVE-2023-5764 Affected Ansible core Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.16.12.15.82.14.12
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ansible-core
pypi/ansible-core
PyPI
≥ 2.16.0
< 2.16.1
2.16.1
ansible-core
pypi/ansible-core
PyPI
≥ 2.15.0
< 2.15.8
2.15.8
ansible-core
pypi/ansible-core
PyPI
< 2.14.12
2.14.12

References

NVD — CVE-2023-5764 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5764
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/270b39f6ff02511a2199505161218cbd1a5ae34f
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/7239d2d371bc6e274cbb7314e01431adce6ae25a
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/fea130480d261ea5bf6fcd5cf19a348f1686ceb1
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2023:77... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7773
Ansible core Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-5764
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2247629
Ansible core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/X7Q6CHPVCHMZS5M7V22GOKFSXZAQ24EU

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-5764?
CVE-2023-5764 is a security vulnerability in Ansible core involving Ansible template injection vulnerability under CWE-1336: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine.
Which Ansible core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.16.1, 2.15.8, 2.14.12 across affected packages: ansible-core.
What version fixes CVE-2023-5764?
Upgrading to 2.16.1, 2.15.8, 2.14.12 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ansible-core affected?
Yes, ansible-core is affected in releases prior to 2.16.1, 2.15.8, 2.14.12. Upgrade your dependency to 2.16.1, 2.15.8, 2.14.12 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-5764?
CVE-2023-5764 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.6 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-5764?
CVE-2023-5764 is classified under CWE-1336: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine (The product uses a template engine to insert or process externally-influenced input, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements or syntax that can be interpreted as template expressions or other code directives when processed by the engine.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2023-5764?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show ansible-core'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-7j69-qfc3-2fq9",
  "modified" : "2024-09-16T21:08:57Z",
  "published" : "2023-12-13T00:30:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-5764" ],
  "summary" : "Ansible template injection vulnerability",
  "details" : "A template injection flaw was found in Ansible where a user's controller internal templating operations may remove the unsafe designation from template data. This issue could allow an attacker to use a specially crafted file to introduce templating injection when supplying templating data.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.16.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.16.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.15.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.15.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.14.12"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5764"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/270b39f6ff02511a2199505161218cbd1a5ae34f"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/7239d2d371bc6e274cbb7314e01431adce6ae25a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/fea130480d261ea5bf6fcd5cf19a348f1686ceb1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7773"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-5764"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2247629"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/X7Q6CHPVCHMZS5M7V22GOKFSXZAQ24EU"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1336" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-12-20T20:30:30Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-12-12T22:15:22Z"
  }
}