CVE-2015-1368 in Ansible Tower
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Ansible Tower (aka Ansible UI) before 2.0.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) order_by parameter to credentials/, (2) inventories/, (3) projects/, or (4) users/3/permissions/ in api/v1/ or the (5) next_run parameter to api/v1/schedules/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1368 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Ansible Tower versions prior to 2.0.5, specifically within the Ansible UI component. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms in the web application's parameter handling, creating multiple attack vectors that can be exploited by remote malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. The affected endpoints include credential management, inventory handling, project administration, and user permissions interfaces within the API v1 framework, as well as schedule management functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the web application's routing and processing logic. Attackers can manipulate the order_by parameter in the credentials/, inventories/, projects/, and users/3/permissions/ endpoints to inject malicious scripts that will execute in the context of other users' browsers who access these interfaces. Additionally, the next_run parameter in the api/v1/schedules/ endpoint presents another vector where crafted input can trigger XSS execution. These vulnerabilities align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and demonstrate poor input validation practices that fail to properly escape or filter user-controllable data before rendering it in web responses. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects core administrative interfaces that handle sensitive configuration data and user management functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions within the application, and potentially gain access to sensitive infrastructure configurations managed by Ansible Tower. Remote attackers can leverage these XSS vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to the administrative interface, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the entire automation platform. The attack surface is amplified by the fact that these endpoints are frequently accessed by system administrators and automation engineers who may have elevated privileges within the Ansible environment. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers can use the XSS to deliver malicious payloads and gain unauthorized access to privileged accounts.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of Ansible Tower to version 2.0.5 or later, where the XSS vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at all entry points, including the use of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and ensure that all user-supplied parameters are properly escaped before being rendered in web responses. Network segmentation and monitoring of API endpoints can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing secure coding practices and input validation as fundamental security controls within automation and infrastructure management platforms, particularly those handling sensitive operational data and privileged access functions.