CVE-2026-92894 Overview
CVE-2026-92894 is an authorization flaw in the foreman_ansible plugin's Ansible override values API. The destroy action resolves the target LookupValue record by ID without verifying it belongs to an AnsibleVariable the caller is authorized to edit. An authenticated user holding the edit_ansible_variables permission can delete arbitrary LookupValue records by ID. This includes override values for Ansible variables outside their permission filter scope, along with override values that belong to Puppet smart class parameters. The weakness maps to CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization.
Critical Impact
Any authenticated Foreman user with the edit_ansible_variables permission can delete Ansible and Puppet override values outside their assigned scope, corrupting configuration state.
Affected Products
- Foreman foreman_ansible plugin (Ansible override values API)
- Red Hat Satellite distributions bundling the affected foreman_ansible plugin
- Deployments exposing the Ansible override values destroy endpoint to authenticated users
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-17 - CVE-2026-92894 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-09-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-92894
Vulnerability Analysis
The foreman_ansible plugin exposes an API that manages LookupValue records used as overrides for Ansible variables. When a client issues a destroy request, the controller loads the target LookupValue directly by its numeric ID. The controller does not confirm that the parent AnsibleVariable falls within the caller's permission filter scope. It also does not confirm that the parent record is an AnsibleVariable at all, which allows deletion of overrides tied to Puppet smart class parameters.
The result is a broken object-level authorization pattern. An authenticated user with the edit_ansible_variables permission gains delete access to override values that the permission model was designed to isolate. Deleting override values silently changes how variables resolve at Ansible or Puppet run time, which affects downstream host configuration.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing ownership and scope validation in the destroy action. The controller trusts the supplied record identifier and skips a check that the target LookupValue belongs to an AnsibleVariable the caller can edit under their filter constraints. This is a textbook Insecure Direct Object Reference tied to [CWE-863].
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the Foreman API and a low-privileged account holding the edit_ansible_variables permission. The attacker enumerates or guesses LookupValue IDs and issues destroy requests against the Ansible override values endpoint. No user interaction is required, and the request path uses standard authenticated API calls rather than a specialized exploit primitive. Refer to the Red Hat CVE-2026-92894 Advisory for vendor analysis.
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Stop Identity AttacksDetection Methods for CVE-2026-92894
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected DELETE requests to the Ansible override values API from accounts that hold only edit_ansible_variables.
- Audit log entries showing removal of LookupValue records whose parent variable is outside the acting user's filter scope.
- Removal of LookupValue records tied to Puppet smart class parameters performed through the Ansible override endpoint.
Detection Strategies
- Correlate Foreman audit logs against per-user permission filters and flag deletions that cross scope boundaries.
- Alert when a single account issues bulk LookupValue deletions in a short window.
- Baseline normal override churn per role and surface deviations for review.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Foreman and Satellite API access logs and audit records to a central analytics platform for retention and query.
- Track the edit_ansible_variables role membership and review changes on a defined cadence.
- Monitor for configuration drift on managed hosts that follows destroy activity on the override API.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-92894
Immediate Actions Required
- Audit which accounts hold the edit_ansible_variables permission and revoke it from users who do not require override management.
- Review recent Foreman audit logs for unauthorized LookupValue deletions and restore removed overrides from backup where needed.
- Restrict network exposure of the Foreman API to trusted management networks.
Patch Information
Apply vendor updates as they become available. Consult the Red Hat CVE-2026-92894 Advisory and Red Hat Bug Report #2535902 for fixed package versions and errata specific to Red Hat Satellite and downstream Foreman builds.
Workarounds
- Limit assignment of the edit_ansible_variables permission to trusted administrators until a patched plugin is installed.
- Enforce role separation so that operators managing Ansible variables cannot reach production Puppet smart class parameter overrides.
- Enable and retain Foreman auditing so unauthorized destroy actions can be identified and reversed.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
