# CVE-2026-89091: Red Hat ansible-core path traversal in collection install

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-89091-a-flaw-was-found-in-ansible-core-when-installing-a-collection  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-08. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-89091 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-10-08

Ansible-core is automation software used to manage enterprise infrastructure and deploy applications. When installing malicious collection packages via ansible-galaxy, attackers can exploit symbolic link handling to write arbitrary files anywhere on the system and execute code with the privileges of the user running the tool. This represents a significant risk to control nodes managing critical infrastructure.

Technologies: [Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/ansible-automation-platform-2), [Red Hat Ansible-Core](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/ansible-core), [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/red-hat-enterprise-linux). Vendors: [Red Hat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/red-hat).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-89091 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-89091 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-89091?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 8 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Red Hat ansible-core; Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform; Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-89091?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-89091 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-89091?** Check whether you run Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, Red Hat Ansible-Core or Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a path traversal flaw (CWE-59) in the ansible-galaxy collection installer: it validates member paths using lexical normalization (os.path.abspath) rather than resolving symbolic links (os.path.realpath), and does not check symlink containment before creation. An attacker crafting a malicious collection tarball can chain symlink directory entries to write files outside the intended extraction directory. This requires user interaction (victim must install a crafted collection) but gains arbitrary file write and code execution as the running user.

## Affected products

- Red Hat ansible-core
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux

## Timeline

- 2026-10-08: disclosed

## References

- [https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/](https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-89091](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-89091)

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