CVE-2026-94416
Description
An authorization bypass was found in the Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) gateway. The gateway API allows an authenticated administrator to create a new service key for the Controller service cluster. Because service-key creation is not restricted to the installer-provisioned provisioning path, an administrator-issued key is cryptographically indistinguishable from a legitimate one and can be used to forge a service-authentication token that impersonates the Controller service. Combined with the gateway OIDC workload-identity endpoint (enabled via FEATURE_OIDC_WORKLOAD_IDENTITY_ENABLED), the attacker can drive the gateway to sign Workload Identity Tokens (WITs) for arbitrary Controller workloads. A downstream resource server such as HashiCorp Vault that trusts the gateway OIDC key will accept the forged WIT and return the AAP credentials bound to that workload, disclosing secrets beyond the attacker's authorization boundary.
Statement
The base CVSS scores the direct technical impact of the flaw: read-only disclosure of the AAP credentials retrievable from a downstream resource server, with Scope:Changed reflecting that the impact reaches beyond the gateway's authority into that resource server. The credentials exposed are those AAP uses to automate managed infrastructure (for example cloud IAM keys, SSH private keys, or service-account credentials), so the real-world business impact of their misuse can be significant; that consequence is deployment-dependent and is not reflected in the base metrics. Administrator-created service keys persist across upgrades, so environments that ran AAP 2.5 or 2.6 should audit and revoke non-installer-provisioned service keys even if the workload-identity feature is only enabled after upgrading to 2.7.
Mitigation
Audit and revoke any Controller service keys that were not provisioned by the installer; this is the most important immediate action and applies to environments upgraded from 2.5/2.6 as well. Where the integration is not required, set FEATURE_OIDC_WORKLOAD_IDENTITY_ENABLED=false to disable the workload-identity endpoint. Rotate any downstream credentials (e.g. in HashiCorp Vault) that could have been retrieved via a forged workload identity.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 6.8 | N/A | 6.8 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | High | N/A | High |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Changed | N/A | Changed |
| Confidentiality | High | N/A | High |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | None |
| Availability Impact | None | N/A | None |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Access Control
Technical Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism; Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
This weakness can allow an attacker to access resources which are not otherwise accessible without proper authentication.
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