CVE-2023-5115 is an absolute path traversal vulnerability identified in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform version 2.3 running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of file paths during the extraction of Ansible roles. An attacker with limited privileges can craft a malicious Ansible role archive containing symbolic links that point outside the intended extraction directory. When the victim executes this role, the symbolic links enable overwriting arbitrary files on the system outside the designated extraction path. This can lead to unauthorized modification of critical system or application files, potentially allowing privilege escalation or disruption of automation workflows. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have some level of privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R) to execute the malicious role. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.3 (medium severity), reflecting the moderate complexity and impact. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the flaw poses a significant risk to the integrity of systems relying on Ansible Automation Platform for configuration management and deployment. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the system primarily, with limited confidentiality impact and no direct availability impact. The flaw is particularly concerning in environments where untrusted or third-party Ansible roles are used without strict validation or sandboxing.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized modification of critical configuration or system files, undermining the integrity of automated deployments and potentially causing operational disruptions. Attackers could leverage this flaw to implant malicious code, alter system behavior, or disable security controls by overwriting key files. Organizations relying heavily on Ansible Automation Platform for managing infrastructure, especially in sectors like finance, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure, could face increased risk of targeted attacks. The medium CVSS score indicates a moderate risk, but the potential for integrity compromise in automated environments elevates the threat. Confidentiality impact is limited, but integrity breaches can cascade into broader security incidents. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation. However, the requirement for user interaction and some privileges means insider threats or compromised accounts could exploit this vulnerability more easily.

Organizations should immediately audit their use of Ansible roles, especially those sourced externally or from untrusted repositories. Implement strict validation and sandboxing of roles before execution to prevent malicious payloads. Upgrade Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform to the latest patched version once available from Red Hat. Until patches are applied, restrict permissions to only trusted users for executing Ansible roles and monitor role execution logs for unusual activity. Employ file integrity monitoring on critical system files to detect unauthorized changes. Use role signing and verification mechanisms to ensure only validated roles are deployed. Additionally, enforce the principle of least privilege on accounts that run Ansible automation to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network segmentation and monitoring of automation infrastructure can help detect and contain exploitation attempts early.