# CVE-2026-103754: Ansible-runner: ansible-runner: path traversal and symlink escape in unstream_dir() allows file write outside the target directory

Status: published. Published: 2026-10-01. Updated: 2026-11-05.

A flaw was found in ansible-runner. The unstream_dir() function, which receives and extracts a streamed zip archive on the worker side of the ansible-runner transmit/worker protocol, re-creates symbolic links from archive content without validating the link target and applies chmod() and utime() to an unsanitized filesystem path derived from the archive member name. A crafted archive processed by a worker that consumes attacker-influenced input can create files, create symbolic links, or change permissions outside the intended target directory, which can be leveraged toward code execution.

## Remediation

- workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability. The upstream ansible-runner project has a fix available via the referenced pull request; upgrading to a release that includes the upstream fix is the recommended resolution. As an additional measure, ensuring that only the trusted automation-controller produces the transmit stream consumed by ansible-runner workers (the standard authenticated Ansible Automation Platform topology) limits exposure to this flaw. (source: CNA: redhat)

## Affected products and versions

- Red Hat / Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 (ansible-automation-platform-27/controller-rhel9): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 (automation-controller): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 5.9 (medium); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L; source: CNA: redhat

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.34% as of 2026-11-05; percentile 27.12%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact partial; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-22

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-103754 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2544510 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner/pull/1550 (CNA: redhat)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-103754; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated 2026-11-05

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-103754; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated Not reported

Revision: ee78c44b9949eae0a0baf82163f9e292efd0fbe27f65b0e3d9f65ed195b40bbb

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-103754

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