CVE-2021-20191

Credential disclosure via unmasked module arguments

Published May 26, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Sensitive-data exposure in Red Hat Ansible before 2.8.19rc1, 2.9.18rc1, or 2.10.7 allows local users to read credentials from logs. Multiple module argument specifications omit no_log=True for secret-bearing fields, causing normal task-result handling to emit API keys, private keys, tokens, and shared secrets. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access to output from a playbook run that invokes an affected module, and the reported consequence is credential disclosure only.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Sensitive-data exposure in Red Hat Ansible before 2.8.19rc1, 2.9.18rc1, or 2.10.7 allows local users to read credentials from logs. Multiple module argument specifications omit no_log=True for secret-bearing fields, causing normal task-result handling to emit API keys, private keys, tokens, and shared secrets. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access to output from a playbook run that invokes an affected module, and the reported consequence is credential disclosure only.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20191
Published
May 26, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Red Hat
Product
Ansible
Classifications
CWE-532, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 26, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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=ansible 2.9.18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Red Hat · Ansibleversion=ansible 2.9.18

Published CVSS scores

5.5GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-532Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

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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