CVE-2014-4678Network attack vector

Remote code execution via callable denylist bypass

Published Feb 20, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Code injection in Ansible before 1.6.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through crafted instructions. The safe_eval AST visitor rejects callable names only when they appear in a denylist, allowing any unlisted callable in attacker-controlled data to reach Python evaluation. Exploitation requires control over instructions evaluated by the control node, and resulting code runs with the Ansible process's privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability5.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in Ansible before 1.6.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through crafted instructions. The safe_eval AST visitor rejects callable names only when they appear in a denylist, allowing any unlisted callable in attacker-controlled data to reach Python evaluation. Exploitation requires control over instructions evaluated by the control node, and resulting code runs with the Ansible process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2014-4678
Published
Feb 20, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Red Hat
Product
Ansible
Classifications
CWE-74, T1059.006
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 20, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=before 1.6.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Red Hat · Ansibleversion=before 1.6.4

Published CVSS scores

9.3GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1059.006Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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