CVE-2021-20228Network attack vector

Secret disclosure via unmasked no_log sub-option values

Published Apr 29, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Information exposure in Red Hat Ansible Engine 2.9.18 allows attackers to obtain secrets through unmasked module return output. In basic.py, fallback and default values assigned to nested no_log options are not added to the set of values removed from output. Exposure requires a module that uses a sensitive nested option with a fallback or default and an attacker able to read the resulting task output.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability2.06%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Information exposure in Red Hat Ansible Engine 2.9.18 allows attackers to obtain secrets through unmasked module return output. In basic.py, fallback and default values assigned to nested no_log options are not added to the set of values removed from output. Exposure requires a module that uses a sensitive nested option with a fallback or default and an attacker able to read the resulting task output.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20228
Published
Apr 29, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Red Hat
Product
Red Hat Ansible Engine
Classifications
CWE-200, T1552
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 29, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=ansible-engine 2.9.18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Red Hat · Red Hat Ansible Engineversion=ansible-engine 2.9.18

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
T1552Unsecured Credentials

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo