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CVE-2024-1657NVD status: Deferred

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for…: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information

CVE-2024-1657 is a high-severity cleartext transmission of sensitive information vulnerability in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8 from Red Hat, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.38% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8 you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Red HatRed Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 9Not specified in the recordNot stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (redhat.com).

Official description

A flaw was found in the ansible automation platform. An insecure WebSocket connection was being used in installation from the Ansible rulebook EDA server. An attacker that has access to any machine in the CIDR block could download all rulebook data from the WebSocket, resulting in loss of confidentiality and integrity of the system.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information

The product transmits sensitive or security-critical data in cleartext in a communication channel that can be sniffed by unauthorized actors.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Before transmitting, encrypt the data using reliable, confidentiality-protecting cryptographic protocols.
  • When using web applications with SSL, use SSL for the entire session from login to logout, not just for the initial login page.
  • When designing hardware platforms, ensure that approved encryption algorithms (such as those recommended by NIST) protect paths from security critical data to trusted user applications.

More Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information vulnerabilities (CWE-319)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8

All Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8 vulnerabilities

Recent Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information vulnerabilities

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