CVE-2017-7481

Name: CVE-2017-7481
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2018-07-19T13:29:00.34+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

CRITICALCVSS 9.8/10EPSS 4.62%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2017-7481 is a critical-severity vulnerability rated 9.8/10 on the CVSS scale. Ansible before versions 2.3.1.0 and 2.4.0.0 fails to properly mark lookup-plugin results as unsafe. If an attacker could control the results of lookup() calls, they could inject Unicode strings to be parsed by the jinja2 templating system, resulting in code execution. EPSS estimates a 4.62% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

Ansible before versions 2.3.1.0 and 2.4.0.0 fails to properly mark lookup-plugin results as unsafe. If an attacker could control the results of lookup() calls, they could inject Unicode strings to be parsed by the jinja2 templating system, resulting in code execution. By default, the jinja2 templating language is now marked as 'unsafe' and is not evaluated.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

9.8/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS Probability

4.62%

90.5th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Redhat	Openshift Container Platform	3.3
Redhat	Openshift Container Platform	3.4
Redhat	Openshift Container Platform	3.5
Redhat	Openstack	10
Redhat	Openstack	11
Redhat	Storage Console	2.0
Redhat	Virtualization	4.1
Redhat	Virtualization Manager	4.1
Redhat	Gluster Storage	3.2
Redhat	Ansible Engine	< 2.3.1.0
Redhat	Ansible Engine	>= 2.3.2.0, < 2.4.0.0
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	16.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	18.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	19.04
Debian	Debian Linux	9.0

References

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98492Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1244Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1334Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1476Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1499Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1599Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2524Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2017-7481Issue Tracking, Patch, Vendor Advisory
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/ed56f51f185a1ffd7ea57130d260098686fcc7c2Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/01/msg00023.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4072-1/Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98492Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1244Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1334Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1476Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1499Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1599Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2524Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2017-7481Issue Tracking, Patch, Vendor Advisory
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/ed56f51f185a1ffd7ea57130d260098686fcc7c2Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/01/msg00023.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4072-1/Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jul 19, 2018
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-7481?

How severe is CVE-2017-7481?

CVE-2017-7481 has a CVSS score of 9.8/10 (CRITICAL severity). The EPSS model estimates a 4.62% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2017-7481?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2017-7481?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST