Understanding Privilege Escalation — Ansible Documentation

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# Understanding Privilege Escalation

Ansible can use existing privilege escalation systems to allow a user to execute tasks as another.

Topics

- Understanding Privilege Escalation
  - Become
  - Directives
    - Connection variables
    - Command line options
    - For those from Pre 1.9 , sudo and su still work!
    - Limitations
      - Becoming an Unprivileged User
      - Connection Plugin Support
      - Only one method may be enabled per host
      - Can’t limit escalation to certain commands
      - Environment variables populated by pam_systemd
  - Become and Networks
    - Setting enable mode for all tasks
      - Passwords for enable mode
    - authorize and auth_pass
  - Become and Windows
    - Administrative Rights
    - Local Service Accounts
    - Accounts without a Password
    - Become Flags
    - Limitations

## Become

Ansible allows you to ‘become’ another user, different from the user that logged into the machine (remote user). This is done using existing privilege escalation tools such as sudo, su, pfexec, doas, pbrun, dzdo, ksu, runas, machinectl and others.

Note

Prior to version 1.9, Ansible mostly allowed the use of sudo and a limited use of su to allow a login/remote user to become a different user and execute tasks and create resources with the second user’s permissions. As of Ansible version 1.9, become supersedes the old sudo/su, while still being backwards compatible. This new implementation also makes it easier to add other privilege escalation tools, including pbrun (Powerbroker), pfexec, dzdo (Centrify), and others.

Note

Become vars and directives are independent. For example, setting `become_user` does not set `become`.

## Directives

These can be set from play to task level, but are overridden by connection variables as they can be host specific.

become
  set to `yes` to activate privilege escalation.
become_user
  set to user with desired privileges — the user you become, NOT the user you login as. Does NOT imply `become: yes`, to allow it to be set at host level.
become_method
  (at play or task level) overrides the default method set in ansible.cfg, set to sudo/su/pbrun/pfexec/doas/dzdo/ksu/runas/machinectl
become_flags
  (at play or task level) permit the use of specific flags for the tasks or role. One common use is to change the user to nobody when the shell is set to no login. Added in Ansible 2.2.

For example, to manage a system service (which requires `root` privileges) when connected as a non-`root` user (this takes advantage of the fact that the default value of `become_user` is `root`):

    - name: Ensure the httpd service is running
      service:
        name: httpd
        state: started
      become: yes

To run a command as the `apache` user:

    - name: Run a command as the apache user
      command: somecommand
      become: yes
      become_user: apache

To do something as the `nobody` user when the shell is nologin:

    - name: Run a command as nobody
      command: somecommand
      become: yes
      become_method: su
      become_user: nobody
      become_flags: '-s /bin/sh'

### Connection variables

Each allows you to set an option per group and/or host, these are normally defined in inventory but can be used as normal variables.

ansible_become
  equivalent of the become directive, decides if privilege escalation is used or not.
ansible_become_method
  which privilege escalation method should be used
ansible_become_user
  set the user you become through privilege escalation; does not imply `ansible_become: yes`
ansible_become_pass
  set the privilege escalation password. See Using Vault in playbooks for details on how to avoid having secrets in plain text

For example, if you want to run all tasks as `root` on a server named `webserver`, but you can only connect as the `manager` user, you could use an inventory entry like this:

    webserver ansible_user=manager ansible_become=yes

### Command line options

`--ask-become-pass, -K`
| ask for privilege escalation password; does not imply become will be used. Note that this password will be used for all hosts.
`--become, -b` | run operations with become (no password implied)
`--become-method=BECOME_METHOD`
| privilege escalation method to use (default=sudo), valid choices: [ sudo | su | pbrun | pfexec | doas | dzdo | ksu | runas | machinectl ]
`--become-user=BECOME_USER`
| run operations as this user (default=root), does not imply –become/-b

### For those from Pre 1.9 , sudo and su still work!

For those using old playbooks will not need to be changed, even though they are deprecated, sudo and su directives, variables and options will continue to work. It is recommended to move to become as they may be retired at one point. You cannot mix directives on the same object (become and sudo) though, Ansible will complain if you try to.

Become will default to using the old sudo/su configs and variables if they exist, but will override them if you specify any of the new ones.

### Limitations

Although privilege escalation is mostly intuitive, there are a few limitations on how it works. Users should be aware of these to avoid surprises.

#### Becoming an Unprivileged User

Ansible 2.0.x and below has a limitation with regards to becoming an unprivileged user that can be a security risk if users are not aware of it. Ansible modules are executed on the remote machine by first substituting the parameters into the module file, then copying the file to the remote machine, and finally executing it there.

Everything is fine if the module file is executed without using `become`, when the `become_user` is root, or when the connection to the remote machine is made as root. In these cases the module file is created with permissions that only allow reading by the user and root.

The problem occurs when the `become_user` is an unprivileged user. Ansible 2.0.x and below make the module file world readable in this case, as the module file is written as the user that Ansible connects as, but the file needs to be readable by the user Ansible is set to `become`.

Note

In Ansible 2.1, this window is further narrowed: If the connection is made as a privileged user (root), then Ansible 2.1 and above will use chown to set the file’s owner to the unprivileged user being switched to. This means both the user making the connection and the user being switched to via `become` must be unprivileged in order to trigger this problem.

If any of the parameters passed to the module are sensitive in nature, then those pieces of data are located in a world readable module file for the duration of the Ansible module execution. Once the module is done executing, Ansible will delete the temporary file. If you trust the client machines then there’s no problem here. If you do not trust the client machines then this is a potential danger.

Ways to resolve this include:

- Use pipelining. When pipelining is enabled, Ansible doesn’t save the module to a temporary file on the client. Instead it pipes the module to the remote python interpreter’s stdin. Pipelining does not work for python modules involving file transfer (for example: copy, fetch, template), or for non-python modules.
- (Available in Ansible 2.1) Install POSIX.1e filesystem acl support on the managed host. If the temporary directory on the remote host is mounted with POSIX acls enabled and the setfacl tool is in the remote `PATH` then Ansible will use POSIX acls to share the module file with the second unprivileged user instead of having to make the file readable by everyone.
- Don’t perform an action on the remote machine by becoming an unprivileged user. Temporary files are protected by UNIX file permissions when you `become` root or do not use `become`. In Ansible 2.1 and above, UNIX file permissions are also secure if you make the connection to the managed machine as root and then use `become` to an unprivileged account.

Warning

Although the Solaris ZFS filesystem has filesystem ACLs, the ACLs are not POSIX.1e filesystem acls (they are NFSv4 ACLs instead). Ansible cannot use these ACLs to manage its temp file permissions so you may have to resort to `allow_world_readable_tmpfiles` if the remote machines use ZFS.

Changed in version 2.1.

In addition to the additional means of doing this securely, Ansible 2.1 also makes it harder to unknowingly do this insecurely. Whereas in Ansible 2.0.x and below, Ansible will silently allow the insecure behaviour if it was unable to find another way to share the files with the unprivileged user, in Ansible 2.1 and above Ansible defaults to issuing an error if it can’t do this securely. If you can’t make any of the changes above to resolve the problem, and you decide that the machine you’re running on is secure enough for the modules you want to run there to be world readable, you can turn on `allow_world_readable_tmpfiles` in the `ansible.cfg` file. Setting `allow_world_readable_tmpfiles` will change this from an error into a warning and allow the task to run as it did prior to 2.1.

#### Connection Plugin Support

Privilege escalation methods must also be supported by the connection plugin used. Most connection plugins will warn if they do not support become. Some will just ignore it as they always run as root (jail, chroot, etc).

#### Only one method may be enabled per host

Methods cannot be chained. You cannot use `sudo /bin/su -` to become a user, you need to have privileges to run the command as that user in sudo or be able to su directly to it (the same for pbrun, pfexec or other supported methods).

#### Can’t limit escalation to certain commands

Privilege escalation permissions have to be general. Ansible does not always use a specific command to do something but runs modules (code) from a temporary file name which changes every time. If you have ‘/sbin/service’ or ‘/bin/chmod’ as the allowed commands this will fail with ansible as those paths won’t match with the temporary file that ansible creates to run the module.

#### Environment variables populated by pam_systemd

For most Linux distributions using `systemd` as their init, the default methods used by `become` do not open a new “session”, in the sense of systemd. Because the `pam_systemd` module will not fully initialize a new session, you might have surprises compared to a normal session opened through ssh: some environment variables set by `pam_systemd`, most notably `XDG_RUNTIME_DIR`, are not populated for the new user and instead inherited or just emptied.

This might cause trouble when trying to invoke systemd commands that depend on `XDG_RUNTIME_DIR` to access the bus:

    $ echo $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR

    $ systemctl --user status
    Failed to connect to bus: Permission denied

To force `become` to open a new systemd session that goes through `pam_systemd`, you can use `become_method: machinectl`.

For more information, see this systemd issue.

## Become and Networks

As of version 2.6, Ansible supports `become` for privilege escalation (entering `enable` mode or privileged EXEC mode) on all Ansible-maintained platforms that support `enable` mode: eos`, `ios`, and `nxos`. Using `become` replaces the `authorize` and `auth_pass` options in a `provider` dictionary.

You must set the connection type to either `connection: network_cli` or `connection: httpapi` to use `become` for privilege escalation on network devices. Check the Platform Options and network_modules documentation for details.

You can use escalated privileges on only the specific tasks that need them, on an entire play, or on all plays. Adding `become: yes` and `become_method: enable` instructs Ansible to enter `enable` mode before executing the task, play, or playbook where those parameters are set.

If you see this error message, the task that generated it requires `enable` mode to succeed:

    Invalid input (privileged mode required)

To set `enable` mode for a specific task, add `become` at the task level:

    - name: Gather facts (eos)
      eos_facts:
        gather_subset:
          - "!hardware"
      become: yes
      become_method: enable

To set enable mode for all tasks in a single play, add `become` at the play level:

    - hosts: eos-switches
      become: yes
      become_method: enable
      tasks:
        - name: Gather facts (eos)
          eos_facts:
            gather_subset:
              - "!hardware"

### Setting enable mode for all tasks

Often you wish for all tasks in all plays to run using privilege mode, that is best achieved by using `group_vars`:

group_vars/eos.yml

    ansible_connection: network_cli
    ansible_network_os: eos
    ansible_user: myuser
    ansible_become: yes
    ansible_become_method: enable

#### Passwords for enable mode

If you need a password to enter `enable` mode, you can specify it in one of two ways:

- providing the `--ask-become-pass` command line option
- setting the `ansible_become_pass` connection variable

Warning

As a reminder passwords should never be stored in plain text. For information on encrypting your passwords and other secrets with Ansible Vault, see Using Vault in playbooks.

### authorize and auth_pass

Ansible still supports `enable` mode with `connection: local` for legacy playbooks. To enter `enable` mode with `connection: local`, use the module options `authorize` and `auth_pass`:

    - hosts: eos-switches
      ansible_connection: local
      tasks:
        - name: Gather facts (eos)
          eos_facts:
            gather_subset:
              - "!hardware"
          provider:
            authorize: yes
            auth_pass: " {{ secret_auth_pass }}"

We recommend updating your playbooks to use `become` for network-device `enable` mode consistently. The use of `authorize` and of `provider` dictionaries will be deprecated in future. Check the Platform Options and network_modules documentation for details.

## Become and Windows

Since Ansible 2.3, `become` can be used on Windows hosts through the `runas` method. Become on Windows uses the same inventory setup and invocation arguments as `become` on a non-Windows host, so the setup and variable names are the same as what is defined in this document.

While `become` can be used to assume the identity of another user, there are other uses for it with Windows hosts. One important use is to bypass some of the limitations that are imposed when running on WinRM, such as constrained network delegation or accessing forbidden system calls like the WUA API. You can use `become` with the same user as `ansible_user` to bypass these limitations and run commands that are not normally accessible in a WinRM session.

Note

Prior to Ansible 2.4, become would only work when `ansible_winrm_transport` was set to either `basic` or `credssp`, but since Ansible 2.4 become now works on all transport types.

### Administrative Rights

Many tasks in Windows require administrative privileges to complete. When using the `runas` become method, Ansible will attempt to run the module with the full privileges that are available to the remote user. If it fails to elevate the user token, it will continue to use the limited token during execution.

Before Ansible 2.5, a token was only able to be elevated when UAC was disabled or the remote user had the `SeTcbPrivilege` assigned. This restriction has been lifted in Ansible 2.5 and a user that is a member of the `BUILTIN\Administrators` group should have an elevated token during the module execution.

To determine the type of token that Ansible was able to get, run the following task and check the output:

    - win_whoami:
      become: yes

Under the `GROUP INFORMATION` section, the `Mandatory Label` entry determines whether the user has Administrative rights. Here are the labels that can be returned and what they mean:

- `Medium`: Ansible failed to get an elevated token and ran under a limited token. Only a subset of the privileges assigned to user are available during the module execution and the user does not have administrative rights.
- `High`: An elevated token was used and all the privileges assigned to the user are available during the module execution.
- `System`: The `NT AUTHORITY\System` account is used and has the highest level of privileges available.

The output will also show the list of privileges that have been granted to the user. When `State==Disabled`, the privileges have not been enabled but can be if required. In most scenarios these privileges are automatically enabled when required.

If running on a version of Ansible that is older than 2.5 or the normal `runas` escalation process fails, an elevated token can be retrieved by:

- Set the `become_user` to `System` which has full control over the operating system.

- Grant `SeTcbPrivilege` to the user Ansible connects with on WinRM. `SeTcbPrivilege` is a high-level privilege that grants full control over the operating system. No user is given this privilege by default, and care should be taken if you grant this privilege to a user or group. For more information on this privilege, please see Act as part of the operating system. You can use the below task to set this privilege on a Windows host:

      - name: grant the ansible user the SeTcbPrivilege right
        win_user_right:
          name: SeTcbPrivilege
          users: '{{ansible_user}}'
          action: add

- Turn UAC off on the host and reboot before trying to become the user. UAC is a security protocol that is designed to run accounts with the `least privilege` principle. You can turn UAC off by running the following tasks:

      - name: turn UAC off
        win_regedit:
          path: HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
          name: EnableLUA
          data: 0
          type: dword
          state: present
        register: uac_result

      - name: reboot after disabling UAC
        win_reboot:
        when: uac_result is changed

Note

Granting the `SeTcbPrivilege` or turning UAC off can cause Windows security vulnerabilities and care should be given if these steps are taken.

### Local Service Accounts

Prior to Ansible version 2.5, `become` only worked with a local or domain user account. Local service accounts like `System` or `NetworkService` could not be used as `become_user` in these older versions. This restriction has been lifted since the 2.5 release of Ansible. The three service accounts that can be set under `become_user` are:

- System
- NetworkService
- LocalService

Because local service accounts do not have passwords, the `ansible_become_password` parameter is not required and is ignored if specified.

### Accounts without a Password

Warning

As a general security best practice, you should avoid allowing accounts without passwords.

Ansible can be used to become an account that does not have a password (like the `Guest` account). To become an account without a password, set up the variables like normal but either do not define `ansible_become_pass` or set `ansible_become_pass: ''`.

Before become can work on an account like this, the local policy Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only must be disabled. This can either be done through a Group Policy Object (GPO) or with this Ansible task:

    - name: allow blank password on become
      win_regedit:
        path: HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
        name: LimitBlankPasswordUse
        data: 0
        type: dword
        state: present

Note

This is only for accounts that do not have a password. You still need to set the account’s password under `ansible_become_pass` if the become_user has a password.

### Become Flags

Ansible 2.5 adds the `become_flags` parameter to the `runas` become method. This parameter can be set using the `become_flags` task directive or set in Ansible’s configuration using `ansible_become_flags`. The two valid values that are initially supported for this parameter are `logon_type` and `logon_flags`.

Note

These flags should only be set when becoming a normal user account, not a local service account like LocalSystem.

The key `logon_type` sets the type of logon operation to perform. The value can be set to one of the following:

- `interactive`: The default logon type. The process will be run under a context that is the same as when running a process locally. This bypasses all WinRM restrictions and is the recommended method to use.
- `batch`: Runs the process under a batch context that is similar to a scheduled task with a password set. This should bypass most WinRM restrictions and is useful if the `become_user` is not allowed to log on interactively.
- `new_credentials`: Runs under the same credentials as the calling user, but outbound connections are run under the context of the `become_user` and `become_password`, similar to `runas.exe /netonly`. The `logon_flags` flag should also be set to `netcredentials_only`. Use this flag if the process needs to access a network resource (like an SMB share) using a different set of credentials.
- `network`: Runs the process under a network context without any cached credentials. This results in the same type of logon session as running a normal WinRM process without credential delegation, and operates under the same restrictions.
- `network_cleartext`: Like the `network` logon type, but instead caches the credentials so it can access network resources. This is the same type of logon session as running a normal WinRM process with credential delegation.

For more information, see dwLogonType.

The `logon_flags` key specifies how Windows will log the user on when creating the new process. The value can be set to none or multiple of the following:

- `with_profile`: The default logon flag set. The process will load the user’s profile in the `HKEY_USERS` registry key to `HKEY_CURRENT_USER`.
- `netcredentials_only`: The process will use the same token as the caller but will use the `become_user` and `become_password` when accessing a remote resource. This is useful in inter-domain scenarios where there is no trust relationship, and should be used with the `new_credentials` `logon_type`.

By default `logon_flags=with_profile` is set, if the profile should not be loaded set `logon_flags=` or if the profile should be loaded with `netcredentials_only`, set `logon_flags=with_profile,netcredentials_only`.

For more information, see dwLogonFlags.

Here are some examples of how to use `become_flags` with Windows tasks:

    - name: copy a file from a fileshare with custom credentials
      win_copy:
        src: \\server\share\data\file.txt
        dest: C:\temp\file.txt
        remote_src: yex
      vars:
        ansible_become: yes
        ansible_become_method: runas
        ansible_become_user: DOMAIN\user
        ansible_become_pass: Password01
        ansible_become_flags: logon_type=new_credentials logon_flags=netcredentials_only

    - name: run a command under a batch logon
      win_whoami:
      become: yes
      become_flags: logon_type=batch

    - name: run a command and not load the user profile
      win_whomai:
      become: yes
      become_flags: logon_flags=

### Limitations

Be aware of the following limitations with `become` on Windows:

- Running a task with `async` and `become` on Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2 and Windows 7 does not work.
- By default, the become user logs on with an interactive session, so it must have the right to do so on the Windows host. If it does not inherit the `SeAllowLogOnLocally` privilege or inherits the `SeDenyLogOnLocally` privilege, the become process will fail. Either add the privilege or set the `logon_type` flag to change the logon type used.
- Prior to Ansible version 2.3, become only worked when `ansible_winrm_transport` was either `basic` or `credssp`. This restriction has been lifted since the 2.4 release of Ansible for all hosts except Windows Server 2008 (non R2 version).

See also

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