# CVE-2014-2686: Ansible unsafe evaluation of some strings

> Ansible mishandles string evaluation, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted inputs.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 9 Jan 2020
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2014-2686, GHSA-49m5-2838-q2rv, PYSEC-2020-198

## What is CVE-2014-2686?

CVE-2014-2686 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 9 Jan 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Ansible prior to 1.5.4 mishandles the evaluation of some strings.

Weakness: CWE-670 (Always-Incorrect Control Flow Implementation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-2686?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including ansible. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `ansible` | PyPI | All versions | 1.5.4 |
| `ansible` | PyPI | All versions | 1.5.4 |
| `ansible` | PyPI | All versions | 1.5.4 |

Products: Redhat Ansible.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-2686?

Upgrade ansible to 1.5.4 or later.

## Is CVE-2014-2686 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-2686 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2014-4657](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4657/): Ansible Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-4966](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4966/): Ansible Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-4967](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4967/): Ansible Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-7550](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7550/): Ansible Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-3498](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3498/): Ansible Arbitrary Code Execution (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-2686 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-2686 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 9 Jan 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-2686 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- ansible (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.5.4
- ansible (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.5.4
- ansible (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.5.4

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2686/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2686/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-2686
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-2686
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-2686

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2686/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.