---
title: "CVE-2023-4237\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-4237?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2023-4237

Publication date 4 October 2023

Last updated 11 July 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.3 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-4237?format=md#impact-score)

Toggle side navigation

## Description

A flaw was found in the Ansible Automation Platform. When creating a new
keypair, the ec2\_key module prints out the private key directly to the
standard output. This flaw allows an attacker to fetch those keys from the
log files, compromising the system's confidentiality, integrity, and
availability.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-4237?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ansible | 26.04 LTS resolute | Needs evaluation |
| 25.10 questing | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 25.04 plucky | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 24.10 oracular | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Needs evaluation |
| 23.10 mantic | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 23.04 lunar | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Needs evaluation |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Needs evaluation |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Needs evaluation |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Needs evaluation |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Needs evaluation |
| ansible-core | 26.04 LTS resolute | Needs evaluation |
| 25.10 questing | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 25.04 plucky | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 24.10 oracular | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Needs evaluation |
| 23.10 mantic | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 23.04 lunar | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Needs evaluation |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not in release |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Notes

---

### [sbeattie](https://launchpad.net/~sbeattie)

core ansible binaries were split into ansible-base, which
got renamed to ansible-core

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.3 · High

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | Low |
  | User interaction | Required |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.3 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-4237)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-4237)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2023-4237)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2023-4237)

### Other references

* <https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2229979>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-4237>