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Vulnerability record · CVE-2018-16859 · published 29 November 2018

CVE-2018-16859: Redhat ansible engine sensitive information in log file vulnerability

Redhat · Ansible Engine

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.

4.4 CVSS 3.0 Medium EPSS 0.54% · top 56.6% CWE-532 · Sensitive information in log file
4.4CVSS 3.0 base score, v2 2.1
0.54%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
20References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

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.

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
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 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3770 Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3771 Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3772 Issue TrackingVendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3773 Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-16859 Issue TrackingVendor Advisory
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/49142 PatchThird Party Advisory
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 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3770 Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3771 Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3772 Issue TrackingVendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3773 Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-16859 Issue TrackingVendor Advisory
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/49142 PatchThird Party Advisory

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2018-16859), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-10-03). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.