CVE-2026-12398
Description
A command injection vulnerability was found in galaxy_ng. The do_git_checkout() function in the legacy role import API (v1) interpolates unsanitized git ref names (branch/tag names) into shell commands executed via subprocess.run() with shell=True. An authenticated user who controls a git repository can create a branch or tag with shell metacharacters in the name to achieve remote code execution on the pulp worker. The vulnerable endpoint is only reachable when GALAXY_ENABLE_LEGACY_ROLES is set to True, which is not the default configuration.
Statement
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform ships galaxy_ng with GALAXY_ENABLE_LEGACY_ROLES set to False by default in all supported versions (2.4, 2.5, 2.6). When this setting is False, the vulnerable v1 API endpoint is not registered and returns a 404 response, making the vulnerability unreachable. Standard AAP deployments are not affected. Customers who have explicitly enabled legacy role support (GALAXY_ENABLE_LEGACY_ROLES=True) should apply the mitigation steps above until a fix is available.
Mitigation
The following practices would help for avoiding exposure and mitigate this flaw:
1. Ensure that GALAXY_ENABLE_LEGACY_ROLES is set to False (the default) in your Galaxy/Hub configuration. This prevents the v1 API routes from being registered, making the vulnerable endpoint entirely unreachable.
2. If legacy role support must be enabled, restrict access to the Galaxy/Hub API to trusted users only. The vulnerability requires authentication, so limiting who can authenticate reduces exposure.
3. Monitor import activity for suspicious git references containing shell metacharacters in branch or tag names.
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 | 7.5 | N/A | 7.5 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | High | N/A | High |
| Privileges Required | Low | N/A | Low |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | N/A | High |
| Integrity Impact | High | N/A | High |
| Availability Impact | High | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality,Integrity,Availability,Non-Repudiation
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart; Read Files or Directories; Modify Files or Directories; Read Application Data; Modify Application Data; Hide Activities
Attackers could execute unauthorized operating system commands, which could then be used to disable the product, or read and modify data for which the attacker does not have permissions to access directly. Since the targeted application is directly executing the commands instead of the attacker, any malicious activities may appear to come from the application or the application's owner.
Acknowledgements
This issue was discovered by Chris Meyers (Red Hat).
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