CVE-2024-8775

Executive Summary

CVE-2024-8775 describes a security flaw in Ansible where sensitive information stored in Ansible Vault files can be inadvertently exposed in plaintext during playbook execution. This occurs when tasks like include_vars load vaulted variables without the no_log: true parameter, causing secrets to be printed in playbook output or logs. This can lead to the unintentional disclosure of passwords, API keys, or other credentials, potentially allowing unauthorized access or actions. The vulnerability is rooted in misconfiguration rather than a code-level bug, making it a configuration and operational security issue.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is not directly related to a specific package manager (NPM, PyPI, Go, Ruby) but affects the Ansible automation platform. However, if Ansible is used to manage or deploy packages from these ecosystems, the exposure of vault secrets could compromise the entire supply chain. For example, if an Ansible playbook exposes an API key for a private PyPI repository, an attacker could gain access to that repository and potentially inject malicious packages.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

The CVSS score is listed as 0.0, indicating that no official CVSS vector has been assigned. However, based on the description, the vulnerability can be assessed as follows:

• Attack Vector (AV): Local (AV:L) – The attacker would need access to the playbook output or logs.
• Attack Complexity (AC): Low (AC:L) – No special conditions are required.
• Privileges Required (PR): Low (PR:L) – The attacker needs access to the logs or output.
• User Interaction (UI): None (UI:N) – No user interaction is required.
• Scope (S): Unchanged (S:U) – The vulnerability does not affect other components.
• Confidentiality (C): High (C:H) – Sensitive data is exposed.
• Integrity (I): None (I:N) – Data integrity is not directly affected.
• Availability (A): None (A:N) – Availability is not affected.

Estimated CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N Estimated Base Score: 5.5 (Medium)

Threat Level: Medium. The vulnerability requires access to logs or output, but the impact of exposed credentials can be severe.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability arises from the misuse of Ansible's no_log parameter. Ansible Vault is used to encrypt sensitive data, but when a playbook task loads vaulted variables (e.g., via include_vars), the decrypted values are processed in memory. If the task does not have no_log: true set, Ansible will log the task's arguments and results, including the decrypted sensitive data, to the playbook output and log files.

Key Components:

• Ansible Vault: Encrypts variables at rest.
• include_vars: Loads variables from a file, including vaulted files.
• no_log: A task parameter that prevents logging of task arguments and results.

Attack Scenario:

1. An administrator creates a vaulted file containing a secret (e.g., db_password: !vault | $ANSIBLE_VAULT...).
2. A playbook uses include_vars to load this file without setting no_log: true.
3. During execution, the playbook output shows the decrypted db_password value.
4. An attacker with access to the logs or output can read the secret.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code Example:

- name: Load vaulted variables
  include_vars:
    file: secrets.yml
  # Missing no_log: true

Patched Code Example:

- name: Load vaulted variables
  include_vars:
    file: secrets.yml
  no_log: true

Explanation: The patched code adds no_log: true to the task, which prevents Ansible from logging the task's arguments and results, thus protecting the decrypted sensitive data.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Objective: Extract sensitive data from Ansible playbook logs.

Prerequisites:

• Access to Ansible playbook output or log files.
• A playbook that loads vaulted variables without no_log: true.

Steps:

1. Identify a target playbook that uses include_vars or similar tasks to load vaulted data.
2. Execute the playbook or wait for it to run.
3. Capture the playbook output (e.g., from terminal, log file, or CI/CD pipeline logs).
4. Search for patterns like "password":, "api_key":, or "secret": in the output.
5. Extract the exposed credentials.

Example Command:

ansible-playbook site.yml -v | grep -E '(password|api_key|secret)'

Blue Team (Defense)

Objective: Detect and prevent exposure of vaulted secrets.

Steps:

1. Audit Playbooks: Review all playbooks for tasks that load vaulted variables and ensure no_log: true is set.
2. Log Monitoring: Monitor logs for patterns indicating secret exposure (e.g., !vault | in plaintext).
3. Access Control: Restrict access to Ansible logs and output.
4. Use Ansible Vault IDs: Use multiple vault IDs to compartmentalize secrets.
5. Implement Log Scrubbing: Use tools like logstash or custom scripts to redact sensitive patterns from logs.

Detection Rule (Sigma):

title: Ansible Vault Secret Exposure
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789abc
status: experimental
description: Detects potential exposure of Ansible Vault secrets in logs
logsource:
  product: ansible
  service: playbook
detection:
  selection:
    - "!vault |"
    - "ANSIBLE_VAULT"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate vault file references
level: high

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Log Entries: Plaintext secrets (e.g., passwords, API keys) in Ansible playbook output or log files.
• File Patterns: Vaulted files (e.g., *.yml or *.yaml containing !vault |) that are loaded without no_log: true.
• Network Traffic: Unusual outbound connections using exposed credentials (e.g., database connections, API calls).

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule Ansible_Vault_Exposure {
    meta:
        description = "Detects Ansible Vault secrets exposed in plaintext"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2024-01-01"
    strings:
        $vault_marker = "!vault |"
        $ansible_vault = "ANSIBLE_VAULT"
    condition:
        any of them
}

Sigma Rule

title: Ansible Vault Secret Exposure
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789abc
status: experimental
description: Detects potential exposure of Ansible Vault secrets in logs
logsource:
  product: ansible
  service: playbook
detection:
  selection:
    - "!vault |"
    - "ANSIBLE_VAULT"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate vault file references
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http $HOME_NET any -> $EXTERNAL_NET any (msg:"Ansible Vault Secret Exposure"; content:"!vault |"; nocase; classtype:attempted-recon; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

1. Immediate Fix: Add no_log: true to all tasks that load vaulted variables.
2. Configuration Review: Audit all playbooks and roles for missing no_log parameters.
3. Log Rotation: Implement log rotation and retention policies to limit exposure.
4. Secret Rotation: Rotate any secrets that may have been exposed.
5. Use Ansible Vault IDs: Use multiple vault passwords to limit the blast radius.
6. Training: Educate developers and operators on secure Ansible practices.
7. Tooling: Use linters (e.g., ansible-lint) to detect missing no_log parameters.

Valters IT Signature This report was generated by Valters IT DevSecOps AI. For questions, contact support@valters-it.com.