CVE-2026-123037

Read full description

A flaw was found in the ansible-core user module. When generate_ssh_key is enabled, User.ssh_key_gen() guards the key files against symlinks but checks the ~/.ssh directory only with os.path.exists(). An unprivileged user on a managed node who replaces their ~/.ssh with a symlink to an existing root-writable directory causes the privileged module to write the generated key pair through the symlink and then chown both files to that user. Because such files can be dropped into directories processed by schedulers (e.g. /etc/cron.daily) or dynamic MOTD (/etc/update-motd.d), the user can escalate to root on the managed node. This is an incomplete fix of CVE-2024-9902.

CVSS 6.7 (MEDIUM)

Attention and evidence

HYPE SCORE

0.0/10

REALITY · THREAT PRIORITY

2.3–4.8/10

Missing inputs: range of priority

Evidence confidence: Insufficient evidence

Why this priority?

Technical severity: CVSS 6.7: +2.34

Fresh prediction unavailable

General review priority, not probability, victim count or asset-specific risk. A range covers missing CVSS/EPSS inputs within the current evidence state.

Sources: 1 documents and public datasets.

Hype components

Headline sample (25%)

0/100

Press, 30 days (60%)

0/100

Grounded branding (15%)

0/100

HYPE TOTAL0/100

Sources and documents

Latest Vulnerabilities

Technical advisory · 06 Nov 2026, 06:16 · CVE-2026-123037 - Ansible-core: user module generate_ssh_key follows a symlinked ~/.ssh enabling local privilege escalation (incomplete fix of cve-2024-9902)

Score evolution

● Hype ● Reality

First record: hype 0.0 · reality 2.3 (2026-11-06 07:25). The curve appears once the score changes.

Public exploit evidence

Public exploit entries / repo candidates

Evidence context and dated references

Reality is general threat/review priority, combining observed exploitation, CVSS severity and fresh EPSS. Evidence confidence is separate. This is not calibrated risk, a victim count or an asset-specific assessment. A range reflects missing numeric inputs. Published 0 days ago. Exploitation evidence usually takes weeks to show up: a low reality score can mean there is no data yet, not that the flaw is mild.

Evidence in context

Confidence in exploitation evidence: Insufficient evidence
Priority basis: Exploitation in attacks unconfirmed; CVSS 6.7; fresh prediction unavailable
Attention, last 30 days: 0 distinct story titles; 0 press documents; 0 publisher domains.
Technical potential: local access, low privileges, user interaction, additional attack conditions.
Observed activity: No exploitation observation is recorded.
Known scale: Not quantified.
Evidence confidence basis: Insufficient evidence

Score evaluated: 2026-11-06 07:25:57.352507+00:00 · EPSS snapshot: not available

Source event timeline

Published

06 Nov 2026, 05:38

Score calculated

06 Nov 2026, 07:25