CVE-2026-19391 in insights-core
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2026
A flaw was found in insights-core where the password redaction layer fails to recognize credentials not keyed under the literal string 'password'. This allows SSSD LDAP bind passwords (ldap_default_authtok) and Pacemaker fence device credentials to be included in cleartext in archives uploaded to console.redhat.com.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2026
This vulnerability resides within the insights-core component of Red Hat's infrastructure monitoring solution, where a critical flaw exists in the credential redaction mechanism that fails to properly identify and mask sensitive authentication data. The issue stems from the password redaction layer's inability to recognize credentials that are stored under variable names other than the standard literal string 'password', creating a significant security gap in data sanitization processes. The flaw specifically affects SSSD LDAP bind passwords which are typically stored under the configuration key ldap_default_authtok and Pacemaker fence device credentials, both of which can contain sensitive authentication information that should never be exposed in system archives.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the credential recognition logic where the redaction system only checks for explicit string matches against the hardcoded 'password' literal, ignoring alternative configuration parameters that may contain equivalent sensitive data. This design oversight allows authentication credentials to persist in cleartext within system archive files that are subsequently uploaded to Red Hat's console.redhat.com platform, creating an attack surface where malicious actors could potentially access these sensitive credentials through compromised upload processes or unauthorized access to the console infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it directly compromises the security of authentication data that flows through the insights-core monitoring system. Organizations using Red Hat's infrastructure monitoring solution may unknowingly expose sensitive LDAP bind passwords and Pacemaker fence device credentials in their system diagnostic archives, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components. This exposure could lead to privilege escalation attacks against directory services and cluster management systems, particularly in environments where these credentials are used for authentication to enterprise directories or high-availability cluster fencing mechanisms.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which addresses improper error handling that can leak information about system state or configuration details, and specifically relates to CWE-540 which covers inclusion of sensitive information in error logs or diagnostic data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers could leverage the exposed credentials to establish persistent access to enterprise systems through compromised authentication mechanisms. The flaw also corresponds to T1528 - Steal Application Access Token and T1531 - Account Access Removal in scenarios where these credentials are used for automated system access or service account authentication.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations that include updating to patched versions of insights-core where the credential redaction layer has been enhanced to recognize alternative configuration parameters beyond just the literal 'password' string. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their SSSD and Pacemaker configurations to identify any instances where sensitive credentials might be stored under non-standard parameter names. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level controls to monitor and restrict upload activities to console.redhat.com, as well as establishing automated processes to verify that sensitive data is properly redacted from diagnostic archives before transmission. Security teams should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions to reduce the attack surface of exposed credentials and establish monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to systems that might be compromised through credential exposure.