CVE-2026-84470: Automation-controller: automation-controller-container: automation-controller/awx: bulk job launch checks instance_groups at read level instead of use level, allowing execution-placement authorization bypass

Severity: medium (CVSS 6.4 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.3% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-09-01 · updated 2026-09-24
Weakness: CWE-862

Description

A flaw was found in Ansible Automation Platform's automation-controller (AWX). The Bulk Job Launch API (POST /api/v2/bulk/job_launch/) authorizes the requested instance_groups with only a read-level permission check, whereas the standard single-job launch path requires use-level permission on the same field. A principal that holds read (but not use) permission on an instance group -- for example the built-in read-only System Auditor role -- together with execute permission on a job template can launch bulk jobs onto instance groups they are not authorized to use, bypassing execution-placement isolation.

Affected products

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8: all versions — fixed in 0:4.6.33-1.el8ap
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 9: all versions — fixed in 0:4.6.33-1.el9ap
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6: all versions — fixed in 1789673739
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 for RHEL 9: all versions — fixed in 0:4.7.17-1.el9ap
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.7: all versions — fixed in 1789580684

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8 0:4.6.33-1.el8ap; Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 9 0:4.6.33-1.el9ap; Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 1789673739; Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 for RHEL 9 0:4.7.17-1.el9ap; Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.7 1789580684. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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