CVE-2017-7550 in Ansible
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in the way Ansible (2.3.x before 2.3.3, and 2.4.x before 2.4.1) passed certain parameters to the jenkins_plugin module. Remote attackers could use this flaw to expose sensitive information from a remote host's logs. This flaw was fixed by not allowing passwords to be specified in the "params" argument, and noting this in the module documentation.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7550 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Ansible automation framework that affected versions 2.3.x prior to 2.3.3 and 2.4.x prior to 2.4.1. This vulnerability specifically targeted the jenkins_plugin module, which is commonly used for managing Jenkins plugins within automated deployment environments. The flaw emerged from how Ansible handled parameter passing to this particular module, creating a scenario where sensitive data could be inadvertently exposed through log files generated during remote operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stemmed from improper handling of the "params" argument within the jenkins_plugin module. When administrators configured Jenkins plugin installations using Ansible, they could pass various parameters including authentication credentials through the params dictionary. The flaw occurred because Ansible did not adequately sanitize or filter these parameters before logging them to the execution logs, allowing passwords and other sensitive information to be written in plain text to log files accessible to unauthorized users. This represents a classic case of insecure logging practices that violates fundamental security principles of information protection.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7550 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential attack vectors for malicious actors who gain access to system logs or monitoring systems. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by simply examining log files to extract passwords, API keys, and other authentication tokens used in Jenkins plugin management operations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and also relates to CWE-312, "Sensitive Data Exposure," as it directly exposes authentication credentials through improper parameter handling. The flaw particularly affects organizations using Ansible for continuous integration and deployment workflows where Jenkins plugin management is automated.
The mitigation strategy implemented by the Ansible development team involved explicitly preventing password values from being passed through the "params" argument and updating module documentation to clearly warn against this practice. This fix demonstrates proper secure coding principles by implementing input validation and sanitization at the module level. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Ansible versions 2.3.3 or 2.4.1 and later to resolve this vulnerability. The remediation process also requires administrators to audit existing logs for potential credential exposure and implement proper log rotation and access controls. This vulnerability exemplifies ATT&CK technique T1070.004, "Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion," as organizations may need to clean up compromised log files, and T1552.001, "Unsecured Credentials: Credentials in Files," as it directly addresses insecure credential storage practices in automated environments.