CVE-2026-56457 Overview
CVE-2026-56457 affects HCL DevOps Deploy and HCL Launch, exposing sensitive information through output logs generated during deployment steps. An authenticated attacker with access to these logs can obtain sensitive values associated with the executed step. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File].
The vulnerability requires low-privileged network access and does not need user interaction. It impacts confidentiality only, with no direct effect on integrity or availability. HCL published a knowledge base advisory describing the issue and remediation guidance.
Critical Impact
Authenticated users with log access can retrieve sensitive step values, including potentially credentials or secrets used in deployment workflows.
Affected Products
- HCL DevOps Deploy (hcltechsw:hcl_devops_deploy)
- HCL Launch (hcltechsw:hcl_launch)
- Deployments relying on step-level secret handling in output logs
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-29 - CVE-2026-56457 published to NVD
- 2026-07-02 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-56457
Vulnerability Analysis
HCL DevOps Deploy and HCL Launch orchestrate application deployments across environments. During execution, steps may reference secrets such as API tokens, passwords, or connection strings. The affected versions write these values into output logs without adequate masking. Any user or process with permission to view step logs can retrieve the exposed data.
This exposure violates the principle of least privilege for secret handling. Deployment logs are commonly retained for audit and troubleshooting, extending the exposure window beyond the deployment itself. Attackers who obtain logs through backups, log shipping infrastructure, or SIEM archives inherit the same access.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper redaction of sensitive properties before writing step output to persistent log storage. The logging routine treats step properties as generic strings rather than distinguishing secret-typed values. This aligns with [CWE-532], where sensitive data lands in log files that receive broader access than the secrets themselves warrant.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires an authenticated account with low privileges. An attacker with access to deployment logs — through the product UI, exported logs, or downstream log aggregation — reads plaintext values from step output. No exploitation code is required. HCL has not reported active exploitation, and CISA has not listed the issue in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
The vulnerability manifests during normal deployment execution when steps handle secret material. See the HCL Software Knowledge Base Article for step-level technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-56457
Indicators of Compromise
- Plaintext credentials, tokens, or API keys appearing in deployment step output logs
- Unusual access patterns from low-privileged accounts querying or exporting log files
- Log entries containing property values that should be marked secure or masked
Detection Strategies
- Scan existing HCL DevOps Deploy and HCL Launch logs for high-entropy strings, credential patterns, and known secret formats
- Audit role assignments that grant viewLog or equivalent permissions on deployment processes
- Correlate log-access events with subsequent authentication attempts against systems referenced in those logs
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest HCL Deploy / Launch audit logs into a centralized SIEM and alert on bulk log exports
- Track access to archived deployment logs held in backup storage or log shipping pipelines
- Rotate any credentials found in historical logs and monitor those accounts for anomalous use
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-56457
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the HCL Software Knowledge Base Article KB0131694 and apply the vendor-provided fix
- Restrict log-view permissions to only accounts that require them for operational duties
- Rotate secrets that may have appeared in step output logs prior to remediation
Patch Information
HCL has published remediation guidance in KB0131694. Administrators should upgrade to the fixed release identified by HCL and confirm that step output no longer emits sensitive property values.
Workarounds
- Mark sensitive properties as secure so the product treats them as protected values
- Purge or restrict access to existing logs that contain exposed secrets
- Disable verbose logging on deployment steps that handle credentials until the patch is deployed
- Limit external log forwarding until masking is confirmed in the upgraded version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
