CVE-2024-8775

What it actually does

Sensitive information stored in Ansible Vault files is exposed in plaintext in playbook output or logs when tasks such as include_vars load vaulted variables without the no_log: true parameter.

Why it matters to the business

Unintentional disclosure of secrets like passwords or API keys can compromise security and enable unauthorized access or actions across affected environments.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker observes or triggers playbook execution that loads vaulted variables without no_log, causing secrets to appear in console output or log files.

How to fix it

Add no_log: true to any task that loads vaulted variables; review and update all playbooks accordingly.

How to confirm the fix worked

Audit playbooks for include_vars tasks missing no_log: true and inspect recent playbook runs for exposed vault contents.

Typical attack path

1. Locate playbooks or roles that use include_vars or similar on vault-encrypted files
2. Execute the playbook without the no_log parameter on the task
3. Capture plaintext secrets from standard output or persisted logs

How to detect it

Review playbook execution logs and console output for plaintext strings that match expected vault contents or common secret patterns.

What your security team should do

• Enforce no_log: true on all tasks handling vaulted data
• Scan existing playbooks and roles for missing no_log directives
• Update logging and CI pipelines to redact or suppress sensitive output