CVE-2014-4678
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2014-4678 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in Ansible's safe_eval function that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on target systems. This affects Ansible installations where untrusted users can submit crafted instructions, potentially compromising entire infrastructure. The vulnerability exists due to incomplete fixes for CVE-2014-4657.
💻 Affected Systems
- Ansible
📦 What is this software?
Ansible by Redhat
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of Ansible-managed infrastructure, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands on all managed nodes, steal credentials, deploy malware, or pivot to other systems.
Likely Case
Attackers with access to Ansible control systems could execute arbitrary code on managed nodes, potentially gaining control over servers, databases, and network devices.
If Mitigated
With proper network segmentation and access controls, impact is limited to isolated segments, but still represents significant risk to affected systems.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires access to submit instructions to Ansible, but the vulnerability itself is easy to exploit once access is obtained. Public proof-of-concept code exists.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.6.4 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=ansible-announce/ieV1vZvcTXU/5Q93ThkY9rIJ
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update Ansible using pip: 'pip install --upgrade ansible>=1.6.4' 2. Verify installation with 'ansible --version' 3. Test playbooks to ensure compatibility
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Ansible API Access
allLimit access to Ansible control systems and APIs to trusted users only
Input Validation
allImplement strict input validation for any data passed to safe_eval function
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate Ansible control systems from production networks using network segmentation
- Implement strict access controls and audit all Ansible API usage
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Ansible version with 'ansible --version' and verify it's below 1.6.4Check Version:
ansible --version | grep 'ansible'Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm version is 1.6.4 or higher with 'ansible --version'📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual Ansible API calls
- Unexpected safe_eval function usage
- Anomalous command execution patterns
Network Indicators:
- Unusual traffic from Ansible control systems to managed nodes
- Anomalous API requests to Ansible endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="ansible" AND (event="safe_eval" OR event="execution") | stats count by src_ip, dest_ip, user🔗 References
- https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/5429b85b9f6c2e640074176f36ff05fd5e4d1916
- https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=ansible-announce/ieV1vZvcTXU/5Q93ThkY9rIJ
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-4678
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/26/30
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/02/2
- https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/freebsd-vid-2c493ac8-205e-11e5-a4a5-002590263bf5
- https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/gentoo-linux-cve-2014-4678
- https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/5429b85b9f6c2e640074176f36ff05fd5e4d1916
- https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=ansible-announce/ieV1vZvcTXU/5Q93ThkY9rIJ
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-4678
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/26/30
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/02/2
- https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/freebsd-vid-2c493ac8-205e-11e5-a4a5-002590263bf5
- https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/gentoo-linux-cve-2014-4678
