AWS Addresses Insecure File Permissions Vulnerability in Command Line Interface
The cloud provider issued an advisory for CVE-2026-13769, citing insecure file permissions that could expose sensitive data in the AWS CLI.
Key points
- AWS has published a security bulletin for CVE-2026-13769 regarding the AWS Command Line Interface.
- The vulnerability stems from insecure file permissions that may compromise credential security.
- The advisory was released through the AWS Security Bulletins feed in April 2026.
Amazon Web Services has issued a security advisory addressing a vulnerability in its Command Line Interface (CLI) tool. The bulletin, identified as CVE-2026-13769, highlights an issue involving insecure file permissions that could potentially expose sensitive information to unauthorized users.
The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-13769, centers on how the AWS CLI handles file permissions. According to the official advisory from AWS Security Bulletins, the insecure permissions could allow local users with access to the system to read files that should be protected. This type of misconfiguration typically affects how credentials or configuration data are stored and accessed on the host machine where the CLI is installed. The issue was documented in the AWS Security Bulletins RSS feed under the identifier 2026-049-aws.
Context and Background
The AWS Command Line Interface is a unified tool used by developers and system administrators to manage AWS services from the command line. It allows users to interact with various AWS services using commands in their command-line shell or to control AWS services using scripts. Because the CLI often stores access keys and secret keys locally to facilitate authentication, the security of these local files is critical.
Insecure file permissions are a common class of vulnerability in software that handles sensitive data. If files containing credentials are readable by other users on the same system, an attacker with local access could potentially steal these credentials. This could lead to unauthorized access to AWS accounts and resources. The AWS Security Bulletins program provides timely information about security issues affecting AWS products and services, allowing customers to take appropriate action.
Who Is Affected
Users of the AWS Command Line Interface are potentially affected by this vulnerability. Specifically, any environment where the AWS CLI is installed and configured to use local credential files may be at risk if the file permissions are not set correctly. This includes development workstations, CI/CD servers, and production instances that utilize the CLI for automation or manual management tasks.
The impact of this vulnerability depends on the operating system and how the CLI was installed and configured. Systems with multiple users are particularly susceptible, as a malicious or compromised user account could potentially access the credential files of another user if the permissions are overly permissive. AWS customers who rely on the CLI for managing their cloud infrastructure should review their installation and configuration practices.
What should you do?
AWS has published a security bulletin detailing the issue. Customers should monitor the AWS Security Bulletins feed for further updates and remediation guidance. In the meantime, administrators can manually verify the file permissions on their local AWS CLI configuration directories to ensure they are not readable by other users. Checking for unauthorized access to credential files is a prudent immediate step.
What to do and how to stay safe: AWS
- Verify that local AWS CLI configuration and credential files have restrictive permissions, ensuring only the owner can read them.
- Monitor the AWS Security Bulletins feed for official patches or detailed remediation instructions from the vendor.
- Audit local user accounts on systems running the AWS CLI to ensure no unauthorized users have access to sensitive directories.
- Once the vendor provides an update, apply it promptly to address the insecure file permissions issue.
Step-by-step guide: Risk Based Vulnerability Management: Prioritize Fixes by Actual Threat
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2026-13769?
CVE-2026-13769 is a vulnerability in the AWS Command Line Interface involving insecure file permissions that could expose sensitive data.
Which AWS product is affected?
The AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) is affected by this vulnerability.
Has a fix been released?
The source material indicates an advisory has been issued, but does not confirm if a specific patch or update has been released yet.
