Execution of Ansible playbooks on Windows platforms with PowerShell ScriptBlock logging and Module logging enabled can allow for 'become' passwords to appear in EventLogs in plaintext. A local user wi
Execution of Ansible playbooks on Windows platforms with PowerShell ScriptBlock logging and Module logging enabled can allow for 'become' passwords to appear in EventLogs in plaintext. A local user with administrator privileges on the machine can view these logs and discover the plaintext password. Ansible Engine 2.8 and older are believed to be vulnerable.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | ansible | >= 2.7.0, < 2.7.4, >= 2.7.5, < 2.8.1, < 2.5.13, >= 2.6.0, < 2.6.10 | 2.7.4, 2.8.1, 2.5.13, 2.6.10 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16859
- https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/49142
- https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/0d746b4198abf84290a093b83cf02b4203d73d9f
- https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/2f8d3fcf41107efafc14d51ab6e14531ca8f8c87
- https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/4d748d34f9392aa469da00a85c8e2d5fe6cec52b
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3770
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3771
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3772
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3773
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-16859
- https://github.com/ansible/ansible
- https://github.com/ansible/ansible/blob/v2.5.13/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.5.rst
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2018-60.yaml
- https://web.archive.org/web/20200227102121/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106004
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00021.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00077.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00020.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106004
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-v735-2pp6-h86r
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-532- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
ansible- Disclosed
- 29.11.2018
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:19
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-v735-2pp6-h86r - CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2018-60 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: ansible
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 68
- First → latest
- 09.2013 12.2025
- Without a fix
- 2
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 9
- High 24
- Medium 27
- Low 6
- Unrated 2
Disclosures per year
- 2017: 3
- 2018: 12
- 2019: 8
- 2020: 29
- 2021: 7
- 2022: 3
- 2023: 1
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 0
earlier: 4
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Execution of Ansible playbooks on Windows platforms with PowerShell ScriptBlock logging and Module logging enabled can allow for 'become' passwords to appear in EventLogs in plaintext. A local user wi this entry
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