# CVE-2026-84470: 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

Status: published. Published: 2026-09-01. Updated: 2026-11-06.

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.

## Remediation

- workaround: - 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. (source: CNA: redhat)

## Affected products and versions

- Red Hat / Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8 (automation-controller): ≥ 0:4.6.33-1.el8ap; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 9 (automation-controller): ≥ 0:4.6.33-1.el9ap; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 for RHEL 9 (automation-controller): ≥ 0:4.7.17-1.el9ap; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 (ansible-automation-platform-26/controller-rhel9): ≥ 1789673739; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.7 (ansible-automation-platform-27/controller-rhel9): ≥ 1789580684; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 6.4 (medium); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L; source: CNA: redhat

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.30% as of 2026-11-05; percentile 22.86%

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

- Weaknesses: CWE-862

## Exploit evidence

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

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71113 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71114 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71177 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71179 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-84470 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2527046 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-84470; retrieved 2026-11-06; source updated 2026-11-06

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-84470; retrieved 2026-11-06; source updated Not reported

Revision: 48803eba65f5878837a756444599432c984abe596c90fc83fa18744bcb6c2c63

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-84470

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