AWS PowerShell Tool Exposes Cleartext Console Passwords in Logs

Amazon Web Services has identified a security vulnerability in its AWS Tools for PowerShell that allows local users to recover cleartext passwords for IAM users. The issue, tracked as CVE-2026-107783, stems from sensitive information being inserted into log files and command output artifacts.

According to the AWS Security Bulletin published on October 9, 2026, the flaw exists in AWS Tools for PowerShell version 5.0.305 and all prior releases. The bulletin, identified as 2026-132-AWS, classifies the issue as "Important" and requires attention. The vulnerability enables an attacker with local access to the system to extract AWS Management Console passwords in cleartext from the logs generated by the tool.

Context and Background

AWS Tools for PowerShell is a module that enables developers and system administrators to manage AWS services directly from the PowerShell scripting environment. This tool is widely used for automating cloud infrastructure tasks and managing resources programmatically.

The discovery of CVE-2026-107783 highlights the risks associated with logging mechanisms in administrative tools. When sensitive credentials are inadvertently written to log files, they become accessible to any user with read access to those logs. In this specific case, the exposure includes IAM user passwords used for the AWS Management Console, which are typically considered high-value targets for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or maintain persistence within an AWS account.

Who is Affected

The vulnerability impacts any organization or individual using AWS Tools for PowerShell version 5.0.305 or earlier. This includes systems where the tool is installed and actively used for managing AWS resources. The risk is primarily local, meaning an attacker must have access to the system where the vulnerable version of the tool is installed.

Administrators who routinely use PowerShell scripts to interact with AWS services are at the highest risk. If these scripts log output or if the tool generates standard log files, the cleartext passwords may be present in those artifacts. The issue does not require remote exploitation but relies on local access to the compromised system’s file system.

What should you do?

AWS has released an advisory detailing the scope and impact of CVE-2026-107783. The bulletin specifies that versions up to and including 5.0.305 are impacted. Organizations should verify their current installed versions of AWS Tools for PowerShell. If a version older than 5.0.306 is in use, the system is vulnerable to this specific credential exposure.

Security teams should review log files and command output history on affected systems to determine if any cleartext passwords have been logged. If such data is found, the affected IAM user passwords should be rotated immediately. While the source material does not explicitly confirm a patch release, it implies that version 5.0.306 and later are not affected by this specific issue. Users should check for and install the latest version of the tools to mitigate this risk.