CVE-2019-3828: Ansible Path Traversal Vulnerability

LOW
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-74vq-h4q8-x6jv
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CVSS 4.2
CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-3828 is a LOW (CVSS 4.2) path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Ansible libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves ansible path traversal vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.5.15, 2.6.14, 2.7.8.

CVE-2019-3828 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-3828
GHSA Identifier GHSA-74vq-h4q8-x6jv
Severity LOW
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.2
CWE Classification CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected Product Ansible
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.2

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2019-3828

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: 2.5.15 
pip install ansible>=2.5.15
ansible fixed: 2.6.14 
pip install ansible>=2.6.14
ansible fixed: 2.7.8 
pip install ansible>=2.7.8
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-2019-3828, 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 2.5.15), 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-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. 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 fetch module before versions 2.5.15, 2.6.14, 2.7.8 has a path traversal vulnerability which allows copying and overwriting files outside of the specified destination in the local ansible controller host, by not restricting an absolute path.

CVE-2019-3828 Affected Ansible Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.5.152.6.142.7.8
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
< 2.5.15
2.5.15
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
≥ 2.6.0a1
< 2.6.14
2.6.14
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
≥ 2.7.0a1
< 2.7.8
2.7.8

References

NVD — CVE-2019-3828 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-3828
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/52133
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/396a2f74717477d80600450e2b7e45349d7b5110
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/4be3215d2f9f84ca283895879f0c6ce1ed7dd333
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/f3edc091523fbe301926b7a0db25fbbd96940d93
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2019:37... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3744
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2019:37... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3789
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-3828
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-74vq-h4q8-x6jv
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2019-5.yaml
usn.ubuntu.com/4072-1 WEB
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4072-1
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00021.html
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00077.html
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00020.html
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172837/Ansible-Fetch-Path-Traversal.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-3828?
CVE-2019-3828 is a security vulnerability in Ansible involving Ansible Path Traversal vulnerability under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal').
Which Ansible versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.5.15, 2.6.14, 2.7.8 across affected packages: ansible.
What version fixes CVE-2019-3828?
Upgrading to 2.5.15, 2.6.14, 2.7.8 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ansible affected?
Yes, ansible is affected in releases prior to 2.5.15, 2.6.14, 2.7.8. Upgrade your dependency to 2.5.15, 2.6.14, 2.7.8 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-3828?
CVE-2019-3828 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.2 (LOW) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-3828?
CVE-2019-3828 is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2019-3828?
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-74vq-h4q8-x6jv",
  "modified" : "2024-11-18T16:26:06Z",
  "published" : "2019-04-15T16:19:19Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2019-3828" ],
  "summary" : "Ansible Path Traversal vulnerability",
  "details" : "Ansible fetch module before versions 2.5.15, 2.6.14, 2.7.8 has a path traversal vulnerability which allows copying and overwriting files outside of the specified destination in the local ansible controller host, by not restricting an absolute path.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.5.15"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.6.0a1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.6.14"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.7.0a1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.7.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-3828"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/52133"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/396a2f74717477d80600450e2b7e45349d7b5110"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/4be3215d2f9f84ca283895879f0c6ce1ed7dd333"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/f3edc091523fbe301926b7a0db25fbbd96940d93"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3744"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3789"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-3828"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-74vq-h4q8-x6jv"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2019-5.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://usn.ubuntu.com/4072-1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00077.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00020.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172837/Ansible-Fetch-Path-Traversal.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "LOW",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:21:22Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2019-03-27T13:29:01Z"
  }
}