CVE-2024-11483 is an improper access control vulnerability discovered in the Ansible Automation Platform (AAP), specifically affecting API endpoints that utilize the ansible_base.oauth2_provider for OAuth2 authentication. The flaw arises because read-scoped OAuth2 tokens, which are intended to provide read-only access, can be improperly leveraged by attackers to escalate privileges and gain write access to the platform’s API. This escalation occurs despite the tokens being scoped, effectively bypassing the intended access control mechanisms. The vulnerability impacts the integrity of the system by allowing unauthorized modifications within the bounds of the user’s assigned permissions, potentially leading to unintended changes in automation workflows, configurations, or service consumption. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.0 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is changed (S:C) because the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially intended scope of the token. Confidentiality and availability are not impacted, but integrity is compromised. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches were linked at the time of publication, indicating that organizations should monitor vendor advisories closely. This vulnerability highlights a critical weakness in OAuth2 token scope enforcement within AAP, which could be exploited by insiders or attackers who have obtained read-scoped tokens.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-11483 can be significant, especially for those relying heavily on Ansible Automation Platform for managing IT infrastructure and automation workflows. Unauthorized write access could lead to unauthorized changes in automation jobs, configuration drifts, or unintended service consumption, potentially disrupting business operations or causing compliance violations. Since the vulnerability undermines scoped access controls, it increases the risk of insider threats or lateral movement by attackers who have limited privileges but can escalate them within the platform. Organizations in sectors with strict regulatory requirements (e.g., finance, healthcare, critical infrastructure) may face increased risk of non-compliance or operational disruptions. The medium severity score suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it still poses a meaningful risk that should be addressed promptly to maintain the integrity of automation processes and prevent potential cascading effects in complex IT environments.

1. Apply vendor patches immediately once they become available to address the improper access control in OAuth2 token handling. 2. Until patches are released, restrict the issuance of OAuth2 tokens to the minimum necessary scopes and avoid granting read-scoped tokens broadly. 3. Implement strict monitoring and logging of API calls, especially write operations, to detect anomalous or unauthorized activities. 4. Conduct regular audits of OAuth2 token usage and permissions within the Ansible Automation Platform to ensure compliance with the principle of least privilege. 5. Consider deploying additional access control layers such as API gateways or web application firewalls (WAFs) that can enforce stricter token validation and scope enforcement. 6. Educate administrators and users about the risks of token misuse and enforce strong authentication and authorization policies. 7. Review and harden the OAuth2 provider configuration to ensure that token scopes are correctly enforced and validated. 8. Implement network segmentation and limit access to the AAP API endpoints to trusted hosts and networks to reduce exposure.