CVE-2020-1753: Ansible Insertion Of Sensitive Information Into Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-86hp-cj9j-33vv
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CVSS 5.5
CWE-532 CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-1753 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.5) insertion of sensitive information into vulnerability (CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File) affecting Ansible libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves insertion of sensitive information into log file, invocation of process using visible sensitive information, and exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor in ansible. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.18, 2.8.12, 2.9.7.

CVE-2020-1753 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-1753
GHSA Identifier GHSA-86hp-cj9j-33vv
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.5
CWE Classification CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
Affected Product Ansible
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.5

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:N/A:N).

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 None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-1753

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: 2.9.7 
pip install ansible>=2.9.7
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-2020-1753, 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-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

A security flaw was found in Ansible Engine, all Ansible 2.7.x versions prior to 2.7.17, all Ansible 2.8.x versions prior to 2.8.11 and all Ansible 2.9.x versions prior to 2.9.7, when managing kubernetes using the k8s module. Sensitive parameters such as passwords and tokens are passed to kubectl from the command line, not using an environment variable or an input configuration file. This will disclose passwords and tokens from process list and no_log directive from debug module would not have any effect making these secrets being disclosed on stdout and log files.

CVE-2020-1753 Affected Ansible Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.182.8.122.9.7
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
< 2.9.7
2.9.7

References

NVD — CVE-2020-1753 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1753
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible-collections/kubernetes/pull/51
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/68195
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/04ba05e003b268b83df6c106ba5c0f08548b1380
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/137caed836ef096945086cfe75dc11587b68db3a
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/273d8538dbe5a7b5c9954f1929d3bb00904c43f6
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2020-1753
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-86hp-cj9j-33vv
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ansible-collections/kubernetes
Ansible Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2020-210.yaml
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DKPA4KC3OJSUFASUYMG66HKJE7ADNGFW
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/WQVOQD4VAIXXTVQAJKTN7NUGTJFE2PCB
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202006-11
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4950

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-1753?
CVE-2020-1753 is a security vulnerability in Ansible involving Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File, Invocation of Process Using Visible Sensitive Information, and Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in Ansible under CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File.
Which Ansible versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.18, 2.8.12, 2.9.7 across affected packages: ansible.
What version fixes CVE-2020-1753?
Upgrading to 2.7.18, 2.8.12, 2.9.7 (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, 2.9.7. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.18, 2.8.12, 2.9.7 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-1753?
CVE-2020-1753 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-1753?
CVE-2020-1753 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-2020-1753?
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-86hp-cj9j-33vv",
  "modified" : "2024-09-09T21:23:00Z",
  "published" : "2021-04-07T20:33:26Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-1753" ],
  "summary" : "Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File, Invocation of Process Using Visible Sensitive Information, and \tExposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in Ansible",
  "details" : "A security flaw was found in Ansible Engine, all Ansible 2.7.x versions prior to 2.7.17, all Ansible 2.8.x versions prior to 2.8.11 and all Ansible 2.9.x versions prior to 2.9.7, when managing kubernetes using the k8s module. Sensitive parameters such as passwords and tokens are passed to kubectl from the command line, not using an environment variable or an input configuration file. This will disclose passwords and tokens from process list and no_log directive from debug module would not have any effect making these secrets being disclosed on stdout and log files.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/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" : "2.9.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1753"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible-collections/kubernetes/pull/51"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/68195"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/04ba05e003b268b83df6c106ba5c0f08548b1380"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/137caed836ef096945086cfe75dc11587b68db3a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/273d8538dbe5a7b5c9954f1929d3bb00904c43f6"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2020-1753"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-86hp-cj9j-33vv"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ansible-collections/kubernetes"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2020-210.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DKPA4KC3OJSUFASUYMG66HKJE7ADNGFW"
  }, {
    "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/WQVOQD4VAIXXTVQAJKTN7NUGTJFE2PCB"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202006-11"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4950"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200", "CWE-532" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-04-05T17:15:45Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-03-16T15:15:00Z"
  }
}