CVE-2020-1746: A flaw was found in the Ansible Engine affecting Ansible Engine versions 2.7.x before 2.7.17 and 2.8.x before

Routine

MEDIUM 5.0WATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-1746 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting ansible engine, ansible tower, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A flaw was found in the Ansible Engine affecting Ansible Engine versions 2.7.x before 2.7.17 and 2.8.x before 2.8.11 and 2.9.x before 2.9.7 as well as Ansible Tower before and including versions 3.4.5 and 3.5.5 and 3.6.3 when the ldap_attr and ldap_entry community modules are used. The issue discloses the LDAP bind password to stdout or a log file if a playbook task is written using the bind_pw in the parameters field. The highest threat from thi

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 67%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-200
Published	2020-05-12
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: debian · redhat

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-05-12 18:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:02 UTCUpdated Record last modified

redhat ansible engine UPGRADE

Affected: >= 2.7.0 and < 2.7.17 · >= 2.8.0 and < 2.8.11 · >= 2.9.0 and < 2.9.7

Fixed in: 2.7.17, 2.8.11, 2.9.7

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.7.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ansible-engine || rpm -q ansible-engine || ansible-engine --version

2. UPGRADE to 2.7.17 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ansible-engine

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade ansible-engine

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.7.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ansible-engine sudo apt install ansible-engine=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.7.0> sudo apt-mark hold ansible-engine

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list ansible-engine sudo dnf downgrade ansible-engine-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.7.0> sudo dnf versionlock add ansible-engine

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

redhat ansible tower UPGRADE

Affected: >= 3.4.0 and <= 3.4.5 · >= 3.5.0 and <= 3.5.5 · >= 3.6.0 and <= 3.6.3

Fixed in: newer than 3.6.3

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.4.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ansible-tower || rpm -q ansible-tower || ansible-tower --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 3.6.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ansible-tower

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade ansible-tower

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ansible-tower sudo apt install ansible-tower=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.4.0> sudo apt-mark hold ansible-tower

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list ansible-tower sudo dnf downgrade ansible-tower-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add ansible-tower

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-1746?

ansible engine: upgrade to 2.7.17, 2.8.11, 2.9.7; ansible tower: upgrade to newer than 3.6.3; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-1746 being exploited?

CVE-2020-1746 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-1746 affect?

CVE-2020-1746 affects ansible engine, ansible tower, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). A flaw was found in the Ansible Engine affecting Ansible Engine versions 2.7.x before 2.7.17 and 2.8.x before 2.8.11 and 2.9.x before 2.9.7 as well as Ansible Tower before and including versions 3.4.5 and 3.5.5 and 3.6.3 when the ldap_attr

How urgent is CVE-2020-1746?

Priority 31/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Ansible vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

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References

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