CVE-2026-84716
MEDIUM 6.6A flaw was found in the automation-controller instance install-bundle endpoint. When a System Administrator downloads an execution/hop node's install bundle, the controller signs an X.509 certificate with the receptor mesh certificate authority in which the Common Name, DNS subject-alternative-name, and receptor node-id are taken verbatim from the caller-chosen instance hostname, with a hard-coded ten-year validity, a random serial, and no issuance log or revocation list. Because the hostname charset validator is case-insensitive while the uniqueness validator is case-sensitive, an administrator can register a case variant of an existing control node's hostname and obtain a mesh-CA-signed certificate that TLS peers, which match hostnames case-insensitively, accept as that control node. In managed/hosted deployments — where the customer holds controller superuser but the platform operator runs the mesh — this yields a long-lived, non-revocable mesh peer credential and, with an on-path position, TLS impersonation or interception of control/hybrid mesh nodes. It does not grant direct remote code execution, because receptor work submission is gated by a separate signing key not included in the bundle.
No known exploitation, public exploit, or elevated probability at this time. Track for changes.
Exploitation likelihood
0.2%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 7th percentile
Impact if exploited
6.6CVSS 3.1 · MEDIUM
- ConfidentialityHigh
- IntegrityLow
- AvailabilityNone
What an attacker needs
- ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
- ⚠Privileges: Requires an admin / high-privilege account
- ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
- ⚠Complexity: Needs a race window or specific setup
✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it
Proof of concept & exploit code
- github-search Search GitHub for public PoC repos
Test against your own equipment
curl -s https://vulnpedia.com/cve/CVE-2026-84716/poc.jsonMachine-readable PoC index for this CVE (for automation).Listed for defensive triage, patch verification, and authorized testing on systems you own. Machine-readable: /cve/CVE-2026-84716/poc.json
Affected
Vendors Red Hat
Products Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 For Rhel 8 Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 For Rhel 9 Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 For Rhel 9 Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.7
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-266: Incorrect Privilege Assignment
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
All CVSS metrics
- MEDIUM 6.6 v3.1 · CNA Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N - MEDIUM 6.6 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N