CVE-2025-53861 identifies a security vulnerability in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 related to the cleartext transmission of sensitive cookies. The flaw arises because certain cookies lack appropriate security flags (such as Secure and HttpOnly) and are transmitted over non-encrypted HTTP channels rather than HTTPS. This insecure transmission exposes these cookies to interception by attackers positioned on the network path, enabling Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks. Additionally, the absence of proper cookie flags can facilitate Cross-site Scripting (XSS) attacks, where malicious scripts injected into web pages can access these cookies and potentially exfiltrate sensitive information. The vulnerability does not require user interaction or authentication but has a high attack complexity, limiting exploitability. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 3.1 reflects a low severity primarily due to the limited confidentiality impact and the requirement for an attacker to have network access to intercept traffic. There are no reported exploits in the wild, and no patches or mitigations have been explicitly linked yet. This vulnerability highlights the importance of enforcing encrypted communication channels (TLS/HTTPS) and setting appropriate cookie security attributes to protect sensitive session data within automation platforms.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive session cookies used by Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2, potentially exposing automation workflows or credentials to attackers. While the direct impact on system integrity or availability is minimal, confidentiality breaches could facilitate further attacks or unauthorized access if attackers leverage intercepted cookies. Organizations relying heavily on Ansible for infrastructure automation, especially in regulated sectors like finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, may face compliance and operational risks if sensitive data is exposed. The risk is heightened in environments where network traffic is not fully encrypted or where internal network segmentation is weak, allowing attackers to perform MitM attacks. However, the low severity and lack of known exploits reduce immediate risk, though the potential for escalation exists if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.

European organizations should immediately audit their Ansible Automation Platform 2 deployments to ensure all communications occur over encrypted channels (TLS/HTTPS). Configuration changes should enforce the Secure and HttpOnly flags on all sensitive cookies to prevent interception and client-side script access. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns indicative of MitM attempts. Until official patches or updates are released by Red Hat, organizations can implement web application firewalls (WAFs) to block suspicious requests and consider using VPNs or secure tunnels for administrative access. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on session management and transport security will help identify residual risks. Additionally, educating administrators on secure configuration practices for automation platforms will reduce exposure to similar vulnerabilities.