CVE-2020-1753 in Ansible Engine
Summary
by MITRE
A security flaw was found in Ansible Engine, all Ansible 2.7.x versions prior to 2.7.17, all Ansible 2.8.x versions prior to 2.8.11 and all Ansible 2.9.x versions prior to 2.9.7, when managing kubernetes using the k8s module. Sensitive parameters such as passwords and tokens are passed to kubectl from the command line, not using an environment variable or an input configuration file. This will disclose passwords and tokens from process list and no_log directive from debug module would not have any effect making these secrets being disclosed on stdout and log files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-1753 represents a critical security flaw within Ansible Engine's Kubernetes module implementation that exposes sensitive authentication credentials during automated infrastructure management operations. This weakness affects multiple Ansible version lines including 2.7.x prior to 2.7.17, 2.8.x prior to 2.8.11, and 2.9.x prior to 2.9.7, making it a widespread concern for organizations relying on Ansible for Kubernetes orchestration tasks. The flaw specifically manifests when Ansible executes kubernetes operations through the k8s module, where authentication parameters including passwords and API tokens are inadvertently passed directly to kubectl command line arguments rather than being handled through secure configuration mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Ansible's improper handling of sensitive parameters within the k8s module execution flow. When Ansible processes Kubernetes tasks, it constructs command line invocations for kubectl that include authentication tokens, passwords, and other confidential data as direct arguments. This approach fundamentally violates security best practices for credential management and creates exposure points where sensitive information becomes visible through standard system monitoring mechanisms. The process list visibility means that any user with access to system process information can observe these credentials, while the no_log directive fails to provide protection since the information is already embedded within the command line arguments before the logging mechanism can intercept and suppress it.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure to encompass comprehensive security implications for organizations utilizing Ansible for Kubernetes automation. Attackers who gain access to system process information, either through legitimate administrative access or through compromised systems, can easily extract authentication tokens and passwords that would otherwise remain protected. This exposure undermines the security model of Kubernetes clusters and can lead to unauthorized access to production environments, privilege escalation, and potential data breaches. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core automation capabilities of Ansible, meaning that any organization using Ansible for Kubernetes management is potentially at risk regardless of their security posture elsewhere in their infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of Ansible where available, specifically versions 2.7.17, 2.8.11, and 2.9.7 or later, which address this credential exposure issue through proper parameter handling mechanisms. The remediation process should involve comprehensive inventory assessment to identify all systems running affected Ansible versions and implementation of the necessary upgrades across all automation environments. Additionally, administrators should review their existing Ansible playbooks to ensure that no sensitive data is being passed through command line arguments in other modules, and consider implementing additional monitoring for process list access. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-256, which addresses insecure storage of credentials, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for unsecured credentials, highlighting the fundamental security principle that sensitive information should never be exposed in command line arguments or process lists where it can be easily accessed by unauthorized parties.