CVE-2020-1735: Ansible Path Traversal Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-gfr2-qpxh-qj9m
Share
CVSS 4.6
CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-1735 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.6) 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 path traversal in ansible. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.18, 2.8.12, 2.9.8.

CVE-2020-1735 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-1735
GHSA Identifier GHSA-gfr2-qpxh-qj9m
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.6
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: 4.6

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:N/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 None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-1735

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: 2.7.18 
pip install ansible>=2.7.18
ansible fixed: 2.8.12 
pip install ansible>=2.8.12
ansible fixed: 2.9.8 
pip install ansible>=2.9.8
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-2020-1735, 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 2.7.18), 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

A flaw was found in the Ansible Engine when the fetch module is used. An attacker could intercept the module, inject a new path, and then choose a new destination path on the controller node. All versions in 2.7.x, 2.8.x and 2.9.x branches are believed to be vulnerable.

CVE-2020-1735 Affected Ansible Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.182.8.122.9.8
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
≥ 2.7.0a1
< 2.7.18
2.7.18
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
≥ 2.8.0a1
< 2.8.12
2.8.12
ansible
pypi/ansible
PyPI
≥ 2.9.0a1
< 2.9.8
2.9.8

References

NVD — CVE-2020-1735 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1735
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/67793
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/69023
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/69024
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/69025
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/18f91bbb88a84b1d3614ef41c3550da735592ac1
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/40969ff43812fabf5397f818d9e521f9b39c9c9a
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/de9a4f5474c5f5db442ae7493d6b5da7177e335d
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202006-11
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/WQVOQD4VAIXXTVQAJKTN7NUGTJFE2PCB
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MRRYUU5ZBLPBXCYG6CFP35D64NP2UB2S
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DKPA4KC3OJSUFASUYMG66HKJE7ADNGFW
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2020-7.yaml
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/blob/stable-2.9/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.9.rst#security-fixes-7
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-gfr2-qpxh-qj9m
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2020-1735

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-1735?
CVE-2020-1735 is a security vulnerability in Ansible involving Path Traversal in Ansible 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 2.7.18, 2.8.12, 2.9.8 across affected packages: ansible.
What version fixes CVE-2020-1735?
Upgrading to 2.7.18, 2.8.12, 2.9.8 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ansible affected?
Yes, ansible is affected in releases prior to 2.7.18, 2.8.12, 2.9.8. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.18, 2.8.12, 2.9.8 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-1735?
CVE-2020-1735 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.6 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-1735?
CVE-2020-1735 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-2020-1735?
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-gfr2-qpxh-qj9m",
  "modified" : "2024-09-09T21:18:37Z",
  "published" : "2021-04-07T20:35:24Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-1735" ],
  "summary" : "Path Traversal in Ansible",
  "details" : "A flaw was found in the Ansible Engine when the fetch module is used. An attacker could intercept the module, inject a new path, and then choose a new destination path on the controller node. All versions in 2.7.x, 2.8.x and 2.9.x branches are believed to be vulnerable.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.7.0a1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.7.18"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.8.0a1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.8.12"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.9.0a1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.9.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1735"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/67793"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/69023"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/69024"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/69025"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/18f91bbb88a84b1d3614ef41c3550da735592ac1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/40969ff43812fabf5397f818d9e521f9b39c9c9a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/de9a4f5474c5f5db442ae7493d6b5da7177e335d"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202006-11"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/WQVOQD4VAIXXTVQAJKTN7NUGTJFE2PCB"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MRRYUU5ZBLPBXCYG6CFP35D64NP2UB2S"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DKPA4KC3OJSUFASUYMG66HKJE7ADNGFW"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2020-7.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/blob/stable-2.9/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.9.rst#security-fixes-7"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-gfr2-qpxh-qj9m"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2020-1735"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-04-05T17:54:51Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-03-16T16:15:00Z"
  }
}