Read the docs
TI-2024-36138 Aliases CVE-2024-53979

Cleartext storage of sensitive information in zhmcclient zhmc-ansible-modules

Priority LOW 37CWE-312Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
High
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Information disclosure
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-312.

Summary

ibm.ibm_zhmc is an Ansible collection for the IBM Z HMC. The Ansible collection "ibm.ibm_zhmc" writes password-like properties in clear text into its log file and into the output returned by some of its Ansible module in the following cases: 1. The 'boot_ftp_password' and 'ssc_master_pw' properties are passed as input to the zhmc_partition Ansible module. 2. The 'ssc_master_pw' and 'zaware_master_pw' properties are passed as input to the zhmc_lpar Ansible module. 3. The 'password' property is passed as input to the zhmc_user Ansible module (just in log file, not in module output). 4. The 'bind_password' property is passed as input to the zhmc_ldap_server_definition Ansible module. These properties appear in the module output only when they were specified in the module input and when creating or updating the corresponding resources. They do not appear in the output when retrieving facts for the corresponding resources. These properties appear in the log file only when the "log_file" module input parameter is used. By default, no log file is created. This issue has been fixed in ibm.ibm_zhmc version 1.9.3. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00139 3rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed zhmc-ansible-modules (zhmcclient): 1.9.3

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
zhmcclientzhmc-ansible-modulesbefore 1.9.31.9.3Patch availableCNA
  • zhmc-ansible-modules Vendorzhmcclient Affected before 1.9.3 Fixed in 1.9.3 Patch available CNA

CPE names CISA-ADP · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:zhmc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*——IBM
  • cpe:2.3:a:ibm:zhmc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·IBM

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA zhmc-ansible-modules (zhmcclient) Fixed in 1.9.3

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-53979

References

  • TI-2024-36058 Python package "zhmcclient" has passwords in clear text in its HMC and API logs CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences