CVE-2026-16493
Ansible-core: argument injection in ansible-galaxy collection install via git clone (incomplete fix for cve-2026-11332)
A flaw was found in ansible-core. The _extract_collection_from_git() function in ansible-core's concrete_artifact_manager.py constructs git clone commands without a '--' (end-of-options) separator before user-supplied URLs when installing collections from git sources. An attacker who provides a crafted collection source URI containing git argument injection payloads can achieve arbitrary command execution when a user runs 'ansible-galaxy collection install' with the malicious source. This is an incomplete fix for CVE-2026-11332, which hardened the role install path but missed the equivalent collection install code path.
Fixes and workarounds
Workaround
The following practices would help for avoiding exposure and mitigate this flaw: 1. Do not install Ansible collections from untrusted or unverified git sources. Only install collections from trusted sources such as Ansible Galaxy (https://galaxy.ansible.com), Red Hat Automation Hub (https://console.redhat.com/ansible/automation-hub), or verified internal repositories using HTTPS URLs. 2. Carefully inspect any requirements.yml files before running 'ansible-galaxy collection install -r requirements.yml'. Verify that all collection sources use legitimate HTTPS URLs and do not contain git+ prefixed URIs with suspicious characters (especially values starting with '-'). 3. Ensure your system's git version is 2.12 or later, which disables the ext:: transport by default. While this does not fully prevent exploitation (the -ccore.sshCommand technique bypasses transport restrictions), it eliminates one of the exploitation vectors. 4. Restrict the GIT_ALLOW_PROTOCOL environment variable to only necessary protocols (e.g. https, ssh) and never include 'ext' unless absolutely required.
Source: CNA: redhatAffected products and versions
| Product | Versions | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Satellite 6.17 for RHEL 9 Red Hat ansible-core
https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/ |
≥ 1:2.16.19-1.el9sat; < * (unaffected, rpm)
Other versions: affected |
CNA: redhat |
| Red Hat Satellite 6.18 for RHEL 9 Red Hat ansible-core
https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/ |
≥ 1:2.16.19-1.el9sat; < * (unaffected, rpm)
Other versions: affected |
CNA: redhat |
| Red Hat Satellite 6.18 for RHEL 9 Red Hat pulpcore-obsolete-packages
https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/ |
≥ 0:1.3.1-5.el9pc; < * (unaffected, rpm)
Other versions: affected |
CNA: redhat |
| Red Hat Satellite 6.18 for RHEL 9 Red Hat python3.12-pulpcore
https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/ |
≥ 0:3.73.30-3.el9pc; < * (unaffected, rpm)
Other versions: affected |
CNA: redhat |
| Red Hat Satellite 6.19 for RHEL 9 Red Hat ansible-core
https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/ |
≥ 1:2.16.19-1.el9sat; < * (unaffected, rpm)
Other versions: affected |
CNA: redhat |
| Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 Red Hat ansible-core
https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/ |
Range not reported
Other versions: affected |
CNA: redhat |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Red Hat ansible-core
https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/ |
Range not reported
Other versions: affected |
CNA: redhat |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Red Hat ansible-core
https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/ |
Range not reported
Other versions: affected |
CNA: redhat |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Red Hat ansible-core
https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/ |
Range not reported
Other versions: affected |
CNA: redhat |
Version ranges are source assertions. Check the vendor advisory and your installed configuration before determining exposure.
CVSS assessments
| Version / score | Vector | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 / 7.8 high |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | CNA: redhat |
Exploit evidence
No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.
References
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:63385CNA: redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:63386CNA: redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:63387CNA: redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-16493CNA: redhat · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2503724CNA: redhat · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
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