CVE-2023-4237 is a vulnerability identified in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform version 2.4 running on RHEL 8. The flaw resides in the ec2_key module, which is responsible for creating new EC2 keypairs. During the keypair creation process, the module erroneously outputs the private key directly to the standard output stream. Because standard output is often captured in log files, this results in sensitive private keys being stored in logs that may be accessible to unauthorized users. This exposure compromises the confidentiality of the private keys, which are critical for authenticating and securing access to EC2 instances. The integrity and availability of the systems managed by these keys are also at risk since an attacker with access to the private keys can impersonate legitimate users, gain unauthorized access, and potentially disrupt operations. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.3 (high), reflecting that exploitation requires local access with low privileges and some user interaction, but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk in environments where logs are not properly secured or where multiple users have access to automation logs. The vulnerability affects Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8, a widely used automation tool in enterprise environments for managing cloud infrastructure, including AWS EC2 instances. The exposure of private keys through logs is a critical operational security failure that can lead to lateral movement and privilege escalation within affected networks.

For European organizations, the exposure of private EC2 keys can lead to unauthorized access to cloud infrastructure, resulting in data breaches, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. Organizations relying on Ansible Automation Platform for cloud orchestration and infrastructure as code are particularly vulnerable, as compromised keys can undermine the security of automated deployments and management workflows. This can affect confidentiality by leaking sensitive credentials, integrity by allowing unauthorized changes to cloud resources, and availability by enabling attackers to disrupt services or delete resources. Critical sectors such as finance, energy, healthcare, and government agencies using Red Hat and AWS services are at heightened risk. The impact is amplified if log files are stored in shared or insufficiently protected locations, or if multiple administrators have access to logs. Additionally, the need for user interaction and local privileges lowers the barrier for insider threats or attackers who have gained limited access to internal systems.

1. Immediately audit and restrict access to all log files generated by Ansible Automation Platform to ensure only authorized personnel can view them. 2. Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) for Ansible users and administrators to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to logs and automation outputs. 3. Monitor and scan existing log files for any exposed private keys and revoke or rotate any compromised EC2 keypairs promptly. 4. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they are released by Red Hat to address this vulnerability directly. 5. Consider configuring Ansible to suppress or redirect sensitive output away from standard logs, or use encrypted logging mechanisms where possible. 6. Educate DevOps and security teams about secure key management practices and the risks of logging sensitive information. 7. Use centralized and secure logging solutions with encryption and access controls to prevent unauthorized log access. 8. Regularly review automation scripts and modules for similar insecure output behaviors to prevent future exposures.