CVE-2026-12405 in foreman_remote_execution
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
A flaw was found in rubygem-foreman_remote_execution. A command injection vulnerability exists in the Red Hat Satellite API (/api/v2/job_invocations). When a job template has the effective_user property marked as overridable: true, the application fails to properly sanitize the effective_user input provided during the API request. The exploitation does not rely on the content or logic of the Job Template/playbook itself; rather, the injection occurs during the instantiation of the job execution environment by the Satellite server. An attacker with permissions to execute job templates can inject arbitrary shell commands into this parameter, which are executed on the target infrastructure with the privileges of the execution user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The vulnerability identified in rubygem-foreman_remote_execution represents a critical command injection flaw within the Red Hat Satellite API endpoint located at /api/v2/job_invocations. This security issue stems from an insufficient input validation mechanism when handling the effective_user property during job template execution. Specifically, when this property is configured to be overridable with a value of true, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before passing it to underlying system commands. The flaw does not depend on malicious content within the Job Template or associated playbook logic itself; instead, the injection occurs at the stage where the Satellite server instantiates the job execution environment. This architectural detail is significant because it indicates that even benign templates can become vectors for exploitation if an attacker manipulates the effective_user parameter during invocation.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability allows authenticated users with permissions to execute job templates to inject arbitrary shell commands into the system. These injected commands are executed on the target infrastructure with the privileges of the designated execution user. This effectively bypasses intended access controls and isolation boundaries within the remote execution framework. The attacker does not need to modify existing templates or gain elevated privileges through other means; they simply exploit the lack of sanitization in a specific configuration state where effective_user is overridable. Once executed, these commands run with the context of the user specified in the request, potentially granting access to sensitive data, lateral movement capabilities, or complete control over managed hosts depending on that user's permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for widespread compromise within an organization’s infrastructure management layer. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can achieve remote code execution across multiple systems managed by Red Hat Satellite. This capability undermines the integrity and confidentiality of the entire environment, as it allows unauthorized command execution that was not intended by system administrators. The ability to execute commands with specific user privileges means that an attacker could escalate their access if they target a service account or administrator-level effective_user setting. Furthermore, because this occurs through the API, exploitation can be automated and conducted remotely without requiring direct console access to individual hosts, increasing the speed and scale of potential attacks.
In terms of industry standards classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command commonly known as OS Command Injection. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Remote Service Exploitation and potentially Privilege Escalation depending on the target user context. The attack vector involves interacting with a network-exposed API, which places it within the scope of external-facing application attacks if the Satellite server is accessible from untrusted networks. Defense in depth strategies are essential here, as relying solely on input validation has proven insufficient due to this specific configuration-dependent flaw.
Mitigation efforts should prioritize immediate patching of rubygem-foreman_remote_execution to the latest version provided by Red Hat that addresses this command injection issue. Administrators must also review their current job template configurations and disable overridable effective_user properties where possible, as removing the ability to override this parameter eliminates the specific attack vector described in the vulnerability report. Additionally, implementing strict API access controls ensures that only trusted users with legitimate business needs can invoke job templates. Network segmentation should be employed to restrict access to the Satellite API from untrusted networks, and comprehensive logging of all API requests involving job invocations should be enabled to facilitate rapid detection of any exploitation attempts through anomalous command patterns or unexpected user privilege usage.