CVE-2025-53861 is a vulnerability identified in Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2, involving the cleartext transmission of sensitive information. Specifically, the flaw arises because sensitive cookies are transmitted without appropriate security flags (such as Secure and HttpOnly) over non-encrypted channels (i.e., HTTP rather than HTTPS). This insecure transmission exposes the cookies to interception by attackers positioned on the network path, enabling Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks. Furthermore, the absence of security flags on cookies can facilitate Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, where malicious scripts injected into web pages can access these cookies. The vulnerability does not require user interaction or authentication but does require an attacker to have network access to intercept the traffic. The CVSS v3.1 score is 3.1 (low severity), reflecting limited confidentiality impact and no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability primarily affects confidentiality by allowing attackers to read sensitive cookie data, which could potentially lead to session hijacking or unauthorized access if combined with other vulnerabilities. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigations have been explicitly linked in the provided data. The vulnerability is rooted in insecure design or configuration of cookie handling within the Ansible Automation Platform's web interface or API endpoints, which transmit sensitive cookies over unencrypted HTTP connections without proper security flags, increasing the risk of interception and exploitation.

For European organizations using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2, this vulnerability could lead to the exposure of sensitive session cookies or authentication tokens if the platform is accessed over unsecured networks or if internal traffic is not properly encrypted. This exposure could enable attackers to hijack sessions or gain unauthorized access to automation workflows, potentially disrupting critical IT operations or exposing sensitive configuration data. Although the direct impact is limited due to the low CVSS score and the requirement for network access, organizations with strict data protection regulations (such as GDPR) may face compliance risks if sensitive information is leaked. Additionally, organizations relying heavily on Ansible for automated deployment and configuration management could experience operational risks if attackers leverage this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain. The risk is heightened in environments where internal network segmentation and encryption are not enforced, or where remote access to the platform occurs over untrusted networks. However, the lack of known exploits and the low severity rating suggest that the immediate threat level is low, but the vulnerability should be addressed proactively to maintain secure automation infrastructure.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Ensure that all web interfaces and APIs of Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 are accessed exclusively over encrypted channels (HTTPS) by configuring TLS with strong cipher suites and enforcing HTTPS redirection. 2) Configure the platform and any associated web servers to set appropriate cookie security flags, including Secure (to restrict cookies to HTTPS connections) and HttpOnly (to prevent client-side scripts from accessing cookies). 3) Conduct a thorough review of network architecture to eliminate any unencrypted traffic paths to the Ansible platform, including internal network segments, VPNs, and remote access points. 4) Implement network-level protections such as TLS inspection and strict firewall rules to prevent interception of traffic. 5) Monitor network traffic for signs of MitM attacks or unusual access patterns to the Ansible platform. 6) Keep the Ansible Automation Platform updated with the latest security patches once available from Red Hat. 7) Educate administrators and users on the importance of accessing the platform only via secure channels and avoiding the use of insecure networks. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on configuration hardening, network architecture, and operational security tailored to the specific nature of this vulnerability.