Automation-controller: gain access to the k8s api server via job execution with container group
Priority LOW 32CWE-285Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-285.
Summary
An improper authorization flaw exists in the Ansible Automation Controller. This flaw allows an attacker using the k8S API server to send an HTTP request with a service account token mounted via `automountServiceAccountToken: true`, resulting in privilege escalation to a service account.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00428 37th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed automation-controller: 4.5.10-1Red Hat: 1 advisory
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | automation-controller | 4.5.10-1 to before 4.5.10-1 | 4.5.10-1 | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8 | — | 4.5.10-1.el8ap | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8 | — | 4.5.10-1.el8ap | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 9 | — | 4.5.10-1.el9ap | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 9 | — | 4.5.10-1.el9ap | Patch available | CNA |
- automation-controller Vendor— Affected 4.5.10-1 to before 4.5.10-1 Fixed in 4.5.10-1 Patch available CNA
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 4.5.10-1.el8ap Patch available CNA
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 4.5.10-1.el8ap Patch available CNA
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 4.5.10-1.el9ap Patch available CNA
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 4.5.10-1.el9ap Patch available CNA
CPE names CNA · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform:2.4::el8 | 2.4 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform:2.4::el9 | 2.4 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform_developer:2.4::el8 | 2.4 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform_developer:2.4::el9 | 2.4 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform_inside:2.4::el8 | 2.4 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform_inside:2.4::el9 | 2.4 | — | Red Hat |
- cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform:2.4::el8 Versions 2.4 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform:2.4::el9 Versions 2.4 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform_developer:2.4::el8 Versions 2.4 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform_developer:2.4::el9 Versions 2.4 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform_inside:2.4::el8 Versions 2.4 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:ansible_automation_platform_inside:2.4::el9 Versions 2.4 — ·Red Hat
Remediation
- Fix · CNA automation-controller Fixed in 4.5.10-1
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2024:6428 Released 2024-09-05 · Red Hat rating ModerateRed Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 Product Security and Bug Fix Update
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8 automation-controller-4.5.10-1.el8ap, automation-controller-cli-4.5.10-1.el8ap, automation-controller-server-4.5.10-1.el8ap +7
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 9 automation-controller-4.5.10-1.el9ap, automation-controller-cli-4.5.10-1.el9ap, automation-controller-server-4.5.10-1.el9ap +8
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8 | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6428 |
| Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 9 | Fixed | RHSA-2024:6428 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 8
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 for RHEL 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-6840
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-64w6-7xrg-vmhg
- 2026-11-05 Affected versions changed · CNA
References
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Sources
- CVE-2024-6840 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-6840 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-64w6-7xrg-vmhg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2024-6840 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences