Ansible is vulnerable to an improper input validation in Ansible's handling of data sent from client systems
Ansible before versions 2.1.4.0, 2.2.1.0 is vulnerable to an improper input validation in Ansible's handling of data sent from client systems. An attacker with control over a client system being managed by Ansible and the ability to send facts back to the Ansible server could use this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the Ansible server using the Ansible server privileges.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | ansible | < 2.1.4.0, >= 2.2.0.0, < 2.2.1.0 | 2.1.4.0, 2.2.1.0 |
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2016-9587
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41013/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-77
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1685
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0515
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0448
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95352
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0260.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0195.html
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-m956-frf4-m2wr
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9587
- https://github.com/ansible/ansible
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/ansible/PYSEC-2018-39.yaml
- https://web.archive.org/web/20170115210655/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95352
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41013
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-20- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
ansible- Disclosed
- 24.04.2018
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 11:20
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2018-39 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-m956-frf4-m2wr - 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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Ansible is vulnerable to an improper input validation in Ansible's handling of data sent from client systems this entry
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