CVE-2026-16544

Awx: websocket eventconsumer missing authorization for inventory_update_events, project_update_events, and system_job_events allows cross-organization stdout disclosure

Published Jul 22, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 6.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in AWX. The websocket event consumer performs RBAC authorization checks only for event groups that are mapped in the consumer_access() function (job_events, workflow_events, ad_hoc_command_events). Three event groups - inventory_update_events, project_update_events, and system_job_events — are not mapped, causing the authorization check to be skipped. Any authenticated user can subscribe to these unmapped websocket event groups for any object ID and receive real-time stdout output from jobs belonging to organizations they have no access to. This is an incomplete remediation of CVE-2020-10698.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

The following practices would help for avoiding exposure and mitigate this flaw: - Restrict AWX/Controller user account creation to only trusted individuals. Since any authenticated user can exploit this flaw regardless of role, minimizing the number of user accounts reduces the attack surface. - Use external authentication (LDAP, SAML, OIDC) with strict group mappings to prevent self-registration and ensure only authorized users can log in. - Review the list of AWX/Controller users and remove or deactivate any accounts that are no longer needed. - Monitor websocket connections and subscriptions for unusual patterns, such as a user subscribing to inventory_update_events or project_update_events for object IDs outside their organization. - Avoid embedding credentials in SCM URLs or inventory source configurations, as these may appear in stdout output. Use credential objects instead. - Apply network segmentation to restrict access to the AWX/Controller web interface to trusted networks only.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in AWX. The websocket event consumer performs RBAC authorization checks only for event groups that are mapped in the consumer_access() function (job_events, workflow_events, ad_hoc_command_events). Three event groups - inventory_update_events, project_update_events, and system_job_events — are not mapped, causing the authorization check to be skipped. Any authenticated user can subscribe to these unmapped websocket event groups for any object ID and receive real-time stdout output from jobs belonging to organizations they have no access to. This is an incomplete remediation of CVE-2020-10698.
Title Awx: websocket eventconsumer missing authorization for inventory_update_events, project_update_events, and system_job_events allows cross-organization stdout disclosure
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat ansible Automation Platform
Weaknesses CWE-862
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform:2
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat ansible Automation Platform
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Jul 22, 2026, 5:47 PM
Reserved
Jul 22, 2026, 9:58 AM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Jul 22, 2026, 12:17 PM
Modified
Oct 24, 2026, 5:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jul 22, 2026, 12:00 AM