CVE-2020-1753: A security flaw was found in Ansible Engine, all Ansible 2.7.x versions prior to 2.7.17, all Ansible 2.8.x ver

Routine

MEDIUM 5.0WATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-1753 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 security flaw was found in Ansible Engine, all Ansible 2.7.x versions prior to 2.7.17, all Ansible 2.8.x versions prior to 2.8.11 and all Ansible 2.9.x versions prior to 2.9.7, when managing kubernetes using the k8s module. Sensitive parameters such as passwords and tokens are passed to kubectl from the command line, not using an environment variable or an input configuration file. This will disclose passwords and tokens from process list and n

Why this priority

Public exploit reference
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	0.5% (top 57%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-200, CWE-214, CWE-532
Published	2020-03-16
Last modified	2026-06-17

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

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-03-16 15:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:02 UTCUpdated Record last modified

redhat ansible engine UPGRADE

Affected: < 2.7.18 · >= 2.8.0 and < 2.8.11 · >= 2.9.0 and < 2.9.7

Fixed in: 2.7.18, 2.8.11, 2.9.7

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.8.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 2.7.18 (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 2.8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ansible-engine sudo apt install ansible-engine=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.8.0> 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_2.8.0> 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: <= 3.3.4 · >= 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.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 30 · 31 · 32

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 30

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-2020-1753?

ansible engine: upgrade to 2.7.18, 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-2020-1753 being exploited?

CVE-2020-1753 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-2020-1753 affect?

CVE-2020-1753 affects ansible engine, ansible tower, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). A security flaw was found in Ansible Engine, all Ansible 2.7.x versions prior to 2.7.17, all Ansible 2.8.x versions prior to 2.8.11 and all Ansible 2.9.x versions prior to 2.9.7, when managing kubernetes using the k8s module. Sensitive para

How urgent is CVE-2020-1753?

Priority 38/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Kubernetes vulnerabilities · Ansible vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

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CVE-2020-1746 MEDIUM 5.0 UPGRADE UPGRADE A flaw was found in the Ansible Engine affecting Ansible Engine versions 2.7.x before 2.7.17 and 2.8.x before
CVE-2020-1737 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE UPGRADE A flaw was found in Ansible 2.7.17 and prior, 2.8.9 and prior, and 2.9.6 and prior when using the Extract-Zip

References

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