Code execution via chained symlink extraction
Published Oct 8, 2026 · Updated Oct 8, 2026
Path escape in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform's extractor allows attackers to overwrite files via a malicious collection. During ansible-galaxy collection install, os.path.abspath checks normalize paths without resolving symlinks, and symlink directory entries lack containment checks, allowing chained links to redirect later file writes outside the destination. Exploitation requires a victim to install the crafted collection; file overwrites and resulting control-node code execution use the installing user's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Path escape in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform's extractor allows attackers to overwrite files via a malicious collection. During ansible-galaxy collection install, os.path.abspath checks normalize paths without resolving symlinks, and symlink directory entries lack containment checks, allowing chained links to redirect later file writes outside the destination. Exploitation requires a victim to install the crafted collection; file overwrites and resulting control-node code execution use the installing user's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-89091
- Published
- Oct 8, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 8, 2026
- Vendor
- libuser Project
- Product
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- Classifications
- CWE-59, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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