CVE-2026-71461 in Ansible Automation Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2026
HostList.list() catches bare Exception and returns str(e) verbatim. Via host_filter, any authenticated user triggers Django FieldError (leaking complete Host model relation graph including internal reverse accessors) or PostgreSQL DataError (leaking raw database error strings). Two primitives: credential__search=x dumps ORM schema, name__regex=[bad reflects PostgreSQL errors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical flaw in the Django-based application's HostList.list() method, which improperly handles exceptions by catching bare Exception instances and returning their string representations directly to the user interface. This design choice creates two distinct attack vectors that allow authenticated users to extract sensitive internal information from the underlying database schema and infrastructure. The first vector exploits the host_filter mechanism when a malformed query triggers a Django FieldError. Because the exception is caught broadly and its message is returned verbatim, an attacker can manipulate input parameters such as credential__search=x to force the ORM into generating detailed error messages that reveal the complete Host model relation graph. This includes internal reverse accessors and foreign key relationships that are not intended for public exposure, effectively mapping out the database structure and potentially exposing sensitive associations between different data entities.
The second vector leverages PostgreSQL-specific errors by injecting malformed regular expressions through parameters like name__regex=[bad. When this input is processed, it causes a PostgreSQL DataError due to invalid regex syntax or other query execution failures. Again, because the application catches all exceptions without filtering for specific types and returns str(e) directly, the raw database error string is exposed in the response. These raw errors often contain detailed context about the database state, table names, column definitions, and sometimes even partial data values depending on the configuration of the PostgreSQL server's logging settings. This leakage provides an attacker with granular insights into the backend technology stack and schema design, which can be used to craft more sophisticated attacks against the application or its underlying infrastructure.
From a security classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-209: Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information, as well as CWE-754: Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions. The failure to implement specific exception handling means that the application does not distinguish between expected operational errors and unexpected system failures, leading to information disclosure through error messages. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this behavior facilitates reconnaissance activities, specifically mapping network architectures (T1046) and discovering service endpoints or database structures (T1592). The ability to dump ORM schemas and raw database errors significantly lowers the barrier for an attacker to understand the application's logic and data model, enabling subsequent exploitation attempts such as SQL injection refinement or privilege escalation based on revealed relationships.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it allows authenticated users to gain unauthorized visibility into internal system structures that should remain opaque. Even though authentication is required, any valid user account can exploit these flaws without needing elevated privileges. The exposure of the Host model relation graph could reveal sensitive business logic or data dependencies, while the leakage of PostgreSQL error strings might expose version numbers, configuration details, or even partial query contents that aid in further exploitation. This undermines the principle of least privilege and fails to provide secure defaults for error handling, which is a fundamental requirement for robust web application security.
To mitigate this vulnerability, developers must replace the bare Exception catch block with specific exception handlers tailored to Django ORM errors such as FieldError or ValidationError, ensuring that only generic, non-sensitive messages are returned to users. It is essential to implement custom middleware or view decorators that log detailed error information internally for debugging purposes while returning standardized, user-friendly responses externally. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened to reject malformed queries before they reach the database layer where possible. For PostgreSQL-specific errors, application-level sanitization of regex patterns and other complex query parameters can prevent execution failures that lead to raw error exposure. Regular security audits focusing on exception handling practices across all API endpoints are recommended to ensure consistent adherence to secure coding standards and prevent similar information disclosure flaws in other parts of the system.