Ansible-runner: ansible-runner: path traversal and symlink escape in unstream_dir() allows file write outside the target directory (CVE-2026-103754) | HOL Guard CVE

Medium · CVSS 5.9CVE-2026-103754

Ansible-runner: ansible-runner: path traversal and symlink escape in unstream_dir() allows file write outside the target directory

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-103754 records a Medium severity (CVSS 5.9) vulnerability in Ansible-runner: ansible-runner: path traversal and symlink escape in unstream_dir() allows file write outside the target directory. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps Red Hat/automation-controller (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Oct 1, 2026Updated Oct 1, 2026Source checked Oct 1, 2026First seen by HOL Oct 1, 2026Material review Oct 1, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Medium · CVSS 5.9
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Not reported

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 5.9. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps Red Hat/automation-controller (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
Red Hat/automation-controllergeneric	*	Not reported

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for Red Hat/automation-controller.
Review the reported fix. Monitor this advisory for an available fix and review any installs of the affected package.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Oct 1, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Oct 1, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Oct 1, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

A flaw was found in ansible-runner. The unstream_dir() function, which receives and extracts a streamed zip archive on the worker side of the ansible-runner transmit/worker protocol, re-creates symbolic links from archive content without validating the link target and applies chmod() and utime() to an unsanitized filesystem path derived from the archive member name. A crafted archive processed by a worker that consumes attacker-influenced input can create files, create symbolic links, or change permissions outside the intended target directory, which can be leveraged toward code execution.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.