CVE-2016-8614: Ansible Ansible Apt_key Module Does Not Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-cmwx-9m2h-x7v4
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-358
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-8614 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) ansible apt_key module does not vulnerability (CWE-358: Improperly Implemented Security Check for Standard) affecting Ansible libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves ansible apt_key module does not properly verify key fingerprint. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.2.0.0.

CVE-2016-8614 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-8614
GHSA Identifier GHSA-cmwx-9m2h-x7v4
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-358: Improperly Implemented Security Check for Standard
Affected Product Ansible
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2016-8614

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: 2.2.0.0 
pip install ansible>=2.2.0.0
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

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2016-8614, 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 2.2.0.0), 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-358: Improperly Implemented Security Check for Standard, where the product does not implement or incorrectly implements one or more security-relevant checks as specified by the design of a standardized algorithm, protocol, or technique. 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

A flaw was found in Ansible before version 2.2.0.0. The `apt_key` module does not properly verify key fingerprints, allowing remote adversary to create an OpenPGP key which matches the short key ID and inject this key instead of the correct key.

CVE-2016-8614 Affected Ansible Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.2.0.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
< 2.2.0.0
2.2.0.0

References

NVD — CVE-2016-8614 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8614
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/issues/5237
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/pull/5353
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/pull/5357
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/commit/1182d1f0b76d56f3667e27987a10b9ec8f03357d
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/commit/66d47c8149d84e52f64b7c4d1f340d45dca94d9c
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2016-8614
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-cmwx-9m2h-x7v4
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2018-37.yaml
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200227214450/https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94108

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-8614?
CVE-2016-8614 is a security vulnerability in Ansible involving Ansible apt_key module does not properly verify key fingerprint under CWE-358: Improperly Implemented Security Check for Standard.
Which Ansible versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.2.0.0 across affected packages: ansible.
What version fixes CVE-2016-8614?
Upgrading to 2.2.0.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ansible affected?
Yes, ansible is affected in releases prior to 2.2.0.0. Upgrade your dependency to 2.2.0.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-8614?
CVE-2016-8614 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-8614?
CVE-2016-8614 is classified under CWE-358: Improperly Implemented Security Check for Standard (The product does not implement or incorrectly implements one or more security-relevant checks as specified by the design of a standardized algorithm, protocol, or technique.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2016-8614?
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-cmwx-9m2h-x7v4",
  "modified" : "2024-09-03T21:31:19Z",
  "published" : "2018-10-10T17:23:26Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-8614" ],
  "summary" : "Ansible apt_key module does not properly verify key fingerprint",
  "details" : "A flaw was found in Ansible before version 2.2.0.0. The `apt_key` module does not properly verify key fingerprints, allowing remote adversary to create an OpenPGP key which matches the short key ID and inject this key instead of the correct key.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.2.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8614"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/issues/5237"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/pull/5353"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/pull/5357"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/commit/1182d1f0b76d56f3667e27987a10b9ec8f03357d"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-core/commit/66d47c8149d84e52f64b7c4d1f340d45dca94d9c"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2016-8614"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-cmwx-9m2h-x7v4"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2018-37.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200227214450/https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94108"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-358" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:32:07Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}