CVE-2023-3971 is an HTML injection vulnerability identified in the Controller component of Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.3 running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags within the user interface settings, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary HTML code. This injection can be leveraged to craft a malicious login page that deceives legitimate users into submitting their credentials, effectively enabling credential theft. The attack requires the attacker to have some level of privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R), meaning the victim must interact with the malicious content for exploitation to succeed. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity severely by enabling credential capture and potential full system compromise, though it does not affect availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.3, reflecting a high severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and no requirement for privileges beyond limited user rights. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the critical nature of the Ansible Automation Platform in enterprise environments. The flaw underscores the importance of secure input handling in web interfaces, especially in automation tools that manage critical infrastructure and workflows.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to the security of automation workflows and infrastructure managed via Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform. Successful exploitation can lead to credential theft, enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to automation controllers and potentially pivot to other systems within the network. This can result in data breaches, unauthorized changes to automation scripts, and disruption of IT operations. Given the widespread use of Red Hat products in European enterprises, including government, finance, and manufacturing sectors, the impact could be significant. The compromise of automation platforms can undermine trust in IT processes and lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR due to potential exposure of personal data. The lack of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score necessitates urgent attention.

1. Apply official patches or updates from Red Hat as soon as they are released to address CVE-2023-3971. 2. Until patches are available, restrict access to the Ansible Automation Platform Controller UI to trusted networks and users only, using network segmentation and firewall rules. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user interface settings to prevent HTML/script injection. 4. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing the Controller to reduce the risk of credential misuse. 5. Monitor logs and user interface configurations for unusual changes or injection attempts. 6. Educate users about phishing risks and the importance of verifying login pages to prevent credential disclosure. 7. Regularly audit automation platform configurations and access controls to detect and remediate unauthorized modifications. 8. Employ web application firewalls (WAF) with rules targeting HTML injection patterns to provide an additional layer of defense.