CVE-2019-14846: Ansible Ansible Uses Plugins That Disclose Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-pm48-cvv2-29q5
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CVSS 7.8
CWE-532 CWE-117
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-14846 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.8) ansible uses plugins that disclose vulnerability (CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File) affecting Ansible libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves ansible uses plugins that disclose credentials. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.6.20, 2.7.14, 2.8.6.

CVE-2019-14846 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-14846
GHSA Identifier GHSA-pm48-cvv2-29q5
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.8
CWE Classification CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
Affected Product Ansible
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.8

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:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

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

How to Fix CVE-2019-14846

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Ansible 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 fixed: 2.6.20 
pip install ansible>=2.6.20
ansible fixed: 2.7.14 
pip install ansible>=2.7.14
ansible fixed: 2.8.6 
pip install ansible>=2.8.6
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

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2019-14846, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show ansible

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Ansible in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.6.20), your application is affected.

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

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File, where the product writes sensitive information to a log file. In Ansible, 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

Ansible, all ansible_engine-2.x versions and ansible_engine-3.x up to ansible_engine-3.5, was logging at the DEBUG level which lead to a disclosure of credentials if a plugin used a library that logged credentials at the DEBUG level. This flaw does not affect Ansible modules, as those are executed in a separate process.

CVE-2019-14846 Affected Ansible Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.6.202.7.142.8.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
< 2.6.20
2.6.20
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
≥ 2.7.0a1
< 2.7.14
2.7.14
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
≥ 2.8.0a1
< 2.8.6
2.8.6

References

NVD — CVE-2019-14846 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-14846
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/63366
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/90e74dd2600e5cc42dd9b4f4656f3d651c4ce5c4
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/cb0f535a8b254a2daf69cd067e842fabb2993034
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/d961f676c01023a6a21503df16ba551a550e515b
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2019:32... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3201
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2019:32... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3202
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2019:32... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3203
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2019:32... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3207
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2020:07... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0756
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14846
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2019-4.yaml
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/05/msg00005.html
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/01/msg00023.html
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4950
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-04/msg00021.html
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-04/msg00026.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-14846?
CVE-2019-14846 is a security vulnerability in Ansible involving Ansible Uses Plugins That Disclose Credentials under CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File.
Which Ansible versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.6.20, 2.7.14, 2.8.6 across affected packages: ansible.
What version fixes CVE-2019-14846?
Upgrading to 2.6.20, 2.7.14, 2.8.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ansible affected?
Yes, ansible is affected in releases prior to 2.6.20, 2.7.14, 2.8.6. Upgrade your dependency to 2.6.20, 2.7.14, 2.8.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-14846?
CVE-2019-14846 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-14846?
CVE-2019-14846 is classified under CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File (The product writes sensitive information to a log file.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2019-14846?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show ansible'. 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-pm48-cvv2-29q5",
  "modified" : "2024-09-09T21:12:08Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T16:58:01Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2019-14846" ],
  "summary" : "Ansible Uses Plugins That Disclose Credentials",
  "details" : "Ansible, all ansible_engine-2.x versions and ansible_engine-3.x up to ansible_engine-3.5, was logging at the DEBUG level which lead to a disclosure of credentials if a plugin used a library that logged credentials at the DEBUG level. This flaw does not affect Ansible modules, as those are executed in a separate process.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.6.20"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.7.0a1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.7.14"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.8.0a1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.8.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-14846"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/63366"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/90e74dd2600e5cc42dd9b4f4656f3d651c4ce5c4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/cb0f535a8b254a2daf69cd067e842fabb2993034"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/d961f676c01023a6a21503df16ba551a550e515b"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3201"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3202"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3203"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3207"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0756"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14846"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2019-4.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/05/msg00005.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/01/msg00023.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4950"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-04/msg00021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-04/msg00026.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-117", "CWE-532" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-17T22:21:08Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2019-10-08T19:15:00Z"
  }
}