Ansiblecore User Module Symlink PrivEsc via SSH Key Generation
CVE-2026-123037 Published on November 6, 2026

Ansible-core: user module generate_ssh_key follows a symlinked ~/.ssh enabling local privilege escalation (incomplete fix of cve-2024-9902)
A flaw was found in the ansible-core user module. When generate_ssh_key is enabled, User.ssh_key_gen() guards the key files against symlinks but checks the ~/.ssh directory only with os.path.exists(). An unprivileged user on a managed node who replaces their ~/.ssh with a symlink to an existing root-writable directory causes the privileged module to write the generated key pair through the symlink and then chown both files to that user. Because such files can be dropped into directories processed by schedulers (e.g. /etc/cron.daily) or dynamic MOTD (/etc/update-motd.d), the user can escalate to root on the managed node. This is an incomplete fix of CVE-2024-9902.

NVD

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2026-123037 can be exploited with local system access, requires user interaction and a small amount of user privileges. This vulnerability is consided to have a high level of attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be very high.

Attack Vector:
LOCAL
Attack Complexity:
HIGH
Privileges Required:
LOW
User Interaction:
REQUIRED
Scope:
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact:
HIGH
Integrity Impact:
HIGH
Availability Impact:
HIGH

Timeline

Reported to Red Hat.

Made public.

Weakness Type

What is an insecure temporary file Vulnerability?

The software attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.

CVE-2026-123037 has been classified to as an insecure temporary file vulnerability or weakness.


Products Associated with CVE-2026-123037

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Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
Red Hat Ansible Core
Red Hat Ansible Portal

Affected Versions

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform Ansible Core 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform Ansible Core 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform Ansible Core 2: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform Ansible Core 2: Red Hat Self-service automation portal 2: