Automation-controller: automation-controller-container: automation-controller/awx: bulk job launch checks instance_groups at read level instead of use level, allowing execution-placement authorization bypass
Summary
| CVE | CVE-2026-84470 |
|---|---|
| State | PUBLISHED |
| Assigner | redhat |
| Source Priority | CVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback |
| Published | 2026-09-01 21:18:48 UTC |
| Updated | 2026-09-03 18:12:56 UTC |
| Description | A flaw was found in Ansible Automation Platform's automation-controller (AWX). The Bulk Job Launch API (POST /api/v2/bulk/job_launch/) authorizes the requested instance_groups with only a read-level permission check, whereas the standard single-job launch path requires use-level permission on the same field. A principal that holds read (but not use) permission on an instance group -- for example the built-in read-only System Auditor role -- together with execute permission on a job template can launch bulk jobs onto instance groups they are not authorized to use, bypassing execution-placement isolation. |
Risk And Classification
Primary CVSS: v3.1 6.4 MEDIUM from [email protected]
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L
EPSS: 0.002430000 probability, percentile 0.152990000 (date 2026-09-03)
Problem Types: CWE-862 | CWE-862 Missing Authorization
| Version | Source | Type | Score | Severity | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | [email protected] | Primary | 6.4 | MEDIUM | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L |
| 3.1 | CNA | CVSS | 6.4 | MEDIUM | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L |
CVSS v3.1 Breakdown
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L
Vendor Declared Affected Products
| Source | Vendor | Product | Version | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 | Not specified | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 | Not specified | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 | Not specified | Not specified |
References
| Reference | Source | Link | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi | [email protected] | bugzilla.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-84470 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| CVE Program record | CVE.ORG | www.cve.org | canonical |
| NVD vulnerability detail | NVD | nvd.nist.gov | canonical, analysis |
Vendor Comments And Credit
Discovery Credit
CNA: Red Hat would like to thank Santosh Kumar Puppala (Independent security researcher) for reporting this issue. (en)
Additional Advisory Data
| Source | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| CNA | 2026-09-01T20:07:41.240Z | Reported to Red Hat. |
| CNA | 2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z | Made public. |
Workarounds
CNA: - Restrict who holds the System Auditor role and avoid combining it with job-template execute grants; review custom roles that pair read on instance groups with execute on job templates. - Where feasible, restrict access to the Bulk Job Launch endpoint (/api/v2/bulk/job_launch/) at the network/proxy layer to trusted automation callers until the fix is applied. - Audit workflow/bulk jobs for placement onto instance groups the launching principal does not hold use_role on.