> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/appsec-rules/iac-security/compute/appsec2-ansible-6.md).

# Certificate validation disabled within Ansible DNF module misconfiguration detected in code

## Rule Details

|                        |                                            |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Cortex AppSec Rule ID  | APPSEC2\_ANSIBLE\_6                        |
| Category - Subcategory | Public Exposure - Encryption And Protocols |
| Provider               | OTHER                                      |
| Severity               | MEDIUM                                     |
| Framework              | Ansible                                    |

## Impact

This rule detects whether the dnf module in Ansible disables certificate validation when making HTTPS requests. Disabling certificate validation can potentially expose the system to various security vulnerabilities, including man-in-the-middle attacks.

## How to Fix

*Module:* dnf

* *Attribute:* validate\_certs

To mitigate this risk, ensure that the \`validate\_certs\`\` attribute in your Ansible dnf tasks is either left at its default value (true) or explicitly set to 'true'. This ensures that SSL/TLS certificates are verified during connections, maintaining the security of HTTPS communication.

Secure Code Example:

## In this example, setting validate\_certs to 'true', ensures secure HTTPS communication during package management operations. \[source,go]

* name: Example ansible.builtin.dnf: name: nginx state: latest validate\_certs: true

***


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