CVE-2021-3701: Ansible runner Ansible-runner Has Default Temporary Files Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wwch-cmqr-hhrm
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CVSS 6.6
CWE-276
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-3701 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.6) ansible-runner has default temporary files vulnerability (CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions) affecting Ansible runner libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves ansible-runner has default temporary files written to world r/w locations. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.1.0.

CVE-2021-3701 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-3701
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wwch-cmqr-hhrm
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.6
CWE Classification CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions
Affected Product Ansible runner
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-2021-3701

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Ansible runner 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-runner fixed: 2.1.0 
pip install ansible-runner>=2.1.0
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-runner

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2021-3701, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show ansible-runner

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Ansible runner in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.1.0), your application is affected.

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

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions, where during installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files. In Ansible runner, 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 flaw was found in ansible-runner where the default temporary files configuration in ansible-2.0.0 are written to world R/W locations. This flaw allows an attacker to pre-create the directory, resulting in reading private information or forcing ansible-runner to write files as the legitimate user in a place they did not expect. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality and integrity.

CVE-2021-3701 Affected Ansible runner Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.1.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ansible-runner
pypi/ansible-runner
PyPI
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.1.0
2.1.0

References

NVD — CVE-2021-3701 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3701
Ansible runner Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner/issues/738
Ansible runner Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner/pull/742
Ansible runner Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner/pull/742/commits
Ansible runner Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-3701
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1977959
Ansible runner Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner
Ansible runner Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible-runner/PYSEC-2022-43067.yaml

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-3701?
CVE-2021-3701 is a security vulnerability in Ansible runner involving ansible-runner has default temporary files written to world R/W locations under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions.
Which Ansible runner versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.1.0 across affected packages: ansible-runner.
What version fixes CVE-2021-3701?
Upgrading to 2.1.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ansible-runner affected?
Yes, ansible-runner is affected in releases prior to 2.1.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.1.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-3701?
CVE-2021-3701 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-2021-3701?
CVE-2021-3701 is classified under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions (During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2021-3701?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show ansible-runner'. 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-wwch-cmqr-hhrm",
  "modified" : "2024-11-26T16:10:02Z",
  "published" : "2022-08-24T00:00:29Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-3701" ],
  "summary" : "ansible-runner has default temporary files written to world R/W locations",
  "details" : "A flaw was found in ansible-runner where the default temporary files configuration in ansible-2.0.0 are written to world R/W locations. This flaw allows an attacker to pre-create the directory, resulting in reading private information or forcing ansible-runner to write files as the legitimate user in a place they did not expect. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality and integrity.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible-runner"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.1.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3701"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner/issues/738"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner/pull/742"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner/pull/742/commits"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-3701"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1977959"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible-runner/PYSEC-2022-43067.yaml"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-276" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-09-01T22:18:53Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-08-23T16:15:00Z"
  }
}