Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for…: Use of Externally-Controlled Format String
CVE-2026-84691 is a high-severity use of externally-controlled format string vulnerability in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8 from Red Hat, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.7 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.2% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8 you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 9 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 for RHEL 9 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.7 | Not specified in the record | Not 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
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (redhat.com).
Official description
A flaw was found in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform's automation- controller. The setting that formats the log message emitted for API 4XX errors is an administrator-controlled Python format-string template that is rendered with a live user object as an argument. Because Python string formatting permits attribute and item traversal on its arguments, an administrator can craft a template that walks from the user object into the application settings and reads the Django secret key and the database password. The formatted message is written to a logger that can be forwarded to an external log aggregator, whose destination is also administrator-controlled, allowing the secrets to be sent off the host. An authenticated administrator can thereby obtain the master encryption key used to protect all stored credentials and the database service password, enabling offline decryption of every stored credential, forgery of user sessions, and direct access to the controller database.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of Externally-Controlled Format String
The product uses a function that accepts a format string as an argument, but the format string originates from an external source.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that is not subject to this flaw.
- Ensure that all format string functions are passed a static string which cannot be controlled by the user, and that the proper number of arguments are always sent to that function as well. If at all possible, use functions that do not support the %n operator in format strings.
- Run compilers and linkers with high warning levels, since they may detect incorrect usage.
More Use of Externally-Controlled Format String vulnerabilities (CWE-134)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
Recent Use of Externally-Controlled Format String vulnerabilities
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
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