CVE-2018-16879 in Ansible Tower
Summary
by MITRE
Ansible Tower before version 3.3.3 does not set a secure channel as it is using the default insecure configuration channel settings for messaging celery workers from RabbitMQ. This could lead in data leak of sensitive information such as passwords as well as denial of service attacks by deleting projects or inventory files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16879 affects Ansible Tower versions prior to 3.3.3 and represents a critical configuration flaw that undermines the security of message transmission between components. This issue stems from the default insecure configuration settings used by the celery workers that communicate with RabbitMQ message brokers, creating an attack surface that exposes sensitive data and enables various forms of malicious activity. The vulnerability manifests when Ansible Tower fails to establish a secure communication channel, leaving the messaging infrastructure susceptible to exploitation.
The technical flaw lies in the improper implementation of secure communication protocols within the Ansible Tower messaging architecture. Specifically, the celery workers responsible for processing tasks and messages from RabbitMQ are configured with default settings that do not enforce encryption or authentication mechanisms. This configuration allows attackers to intercept communications between the tower components and the message broker, potentially gaining access to sensitive information including passwords, API keys, and other confidential data that flows through the system. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in system design and implementation, particularly focusing on the absence of proper encryption and secure communication channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to include significant service disruption capabilities. Attackers who exploit this weakness can potentially execute denial of service attacks by deleting critical project or inventory files, effectively compromising the availability of the Ansible Tower environment. This dual nature of the vulnerability creates a scenario where adversaries can simultaneously access sensitive data and disrupt service operations, making it particularly dangerous in production environments. The exposure of passwords and other credentials through insecure messaging channels represents a severe risk to authentication security, potentially enabling lateral movement within networks and privilege escalation attacks.
Organizations utilizing affected Ansible Tower versions face substantial risk of unauthorized access to their automation infrastructure, with potential consequences ranging from data breaches to complete service disruption. The vulnerability affects the core messaging infrastructure that underpins Ansible Tower's functionality, making it a critical concern for any enterprise relying on automated infrastructure management. Security professionals should note that this issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as compromised credentials could be used to gain unauthorized access to additional systems. The insecure configuration creates an entry point for attackers to establish persistent access and expand their control within the automated infrastructure environment.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Ansible Tower version 3.3.3 or later, which includes proper secure channel configuration for celery workers communicating with RabbitMQ. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as network segmentation, firewall rules to restrict access to RabbitMQ ports, and monitoring of messaging channel communications. Configuration auditing should verify that encryption is properly enabled for all message broker communications, and that authentication mechanisms are appropriately implemented. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual patterns in messaging channel activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that the default configuration settings enforce secure communication channels, thereby preventing the exposure of sensitive information through insecure messaging infrastructure.