CVE-2018-16859

What it is

Execution of Ansible playbooks on Windows platforms with PowerShell ScriptBlock logging and Module logging enabled can allow for 'become' passwords to appear in EventLogs in plaintext. A local user with administrator privileges on the machine can view these logs and discover the plaintext password. Ansible Engine 2.8 and older are believed to be vulnerable.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with an admin-level account, but needs a user to act. High risk of data exposure.

Exploit odds

0.5% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2018-11-29 18:29 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 01:44 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.5% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 4.2 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2018-11-29 18:29 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 01:44 UTC

Exploit probability

0.5% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-532 · Secrets in logs

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Redhat Ansible Engine < 2.5.13
• Redhat Ansible Engine < 2.6.10
• Redhat Ansible Engine < 2.7.4
• Redhat Ansible Engine ≤ 2.8

Attack profile CVSS 3.0 · 4.2

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

High

User interaction

Required

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

None

Availability

None

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2018-16859.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2018-16859. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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