CVE-2026-11837

Ansible-collection-ansible-posix: ansible.posix authorized_key: local privilege escalation via symlink-following chown

Published Jun 10, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.3 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A local privilege escalation vulnerability was found in the ansible.posix authorized_key module. The module's keyfile() function uses os.chown() instead of os.lchown() and opens files without O_NOFOLLOW when managing SSH authorized keys. An unprivileged local user can pre-stage symbolic links in their ~/.ssh directory to redirect file ownership changes to arbitrary system paths when an operator runs the authorized_key task as root, leading to local privilege escalation.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

The following practices would help for avoiding exposure and mitigate this flaw: 1) Do not run the ansible.posix authorized_key module with elevated privileges against untrusted user accounts. 2) Validate that target user home directories do not contain unexpected symbolic links before running playbooks.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.2
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat rhel E4s
Redhat rhel Tus
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_e4s:8.8::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_tus:8.8::appstream
Vendors & Products Redhat rhel E4s
Redhat rhel Tus
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat rhel Aus
Redhat rhel Eus Long Life
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_aus:8.6::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus_long_life:8.6::appstream
Vendors & Products Redhat rhel Aus
Redhat rhel Eus Long Life
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat enterprise Linux Eus
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:10.0
Vendors & Products Redhat enterprise Linux Eus
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat openstack Platform
Vendors & Products Redhat openstack Platform
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A local privilege escalation vulnerability was found in the ansible.posix authorized_key module. The module's keyfile() function uses os.chown() instead of os.lchown() and opens files without O_NOFOLLOW when managing SSH authorized keys. An unprivileged local user can pre-stage symbolic links in their ~/.ssh directory to redirect file ownership changes to arbitrary system paths when an operator runs the authorized_key task as root, leading to local privilege escalation.
Title Ansible-collection-ansible-posix: ansible.posix authorized_key: local privilege escalation via symlink-following chown
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat openstack
Weaknesses CWE-59
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:openstack:17.1
cpe:/a:redhat:openstack:18.0
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat openstack
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Nov 4, 2026, 9:51 PM
Reserved
Jun 10, 2026, 4:10 AM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Jun 10, 2026, 5:16 AM
Modified
Nov 4, 2026, 10:17 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Jun 10, 2026, 12:00 AM