Description
cloud-init through 19.4 relies on Mersenne Twister for a random password, which makes it easier for attackers to predict passwords, because rand_str in cloudinit/util.py calls the random.choice function.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | cloud-init | 19.4-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | cloud-init | 19.4-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | cloud-init | 19.4-2 | — |
| Debian 8 | cloud-init | 0.7.6~bzr976-2+deb8u1 | DLA-2113-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | cloud-init | 20.2-45-g5f7825e2-0ubuntu1~18.04.1 | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | cloud-init | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | cloud-init | 19.4-11.el8 | RHSA-2020:4650 |
| RHEL 7 | cloud-init | 19.4-7.el7 | RHSA-2020:3898 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP1 | cloud-init | 19.4-8.17.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0751-1 |
| SLES 15 | cloud-init | 19.4-5.24.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0585-1 |
| SLES 12 | cloud-init | 19.4-37.39.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:0818-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | cloud-init | 21.2-1.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10688-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | cloud-init | 19.4-lp151.2.15.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:0400-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | cloud-init | 19.3-4.amzn2 | ALAS2-2021-1576 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 8 | cloud-init | 19.4-11.0.1.el8 | ELSA-2020-4650 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | cloud-init | 19.4-7.0.3.el7 | ELSA-2020-3898 |
Advisories 12
- RHSA-2020:3898 Red Hat Security Advisory: cloud-init security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- DLA-2113-1 cloud-init - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:0818-1 Security update for cloud-init SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:0585-1 Security update for cloud-init SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0400-1 Security update for cloud-init SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:0751-1 Security update for cloud-init SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10688-1 cloud-init-21.2-1.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-0012 Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jan 5, 2026
- RHSA-2020:4650 Red Hat Security Advisory: cloud-init security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- ALAS2-2021-1576 Moderate: cloud-init security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jan 6, 2021
- ELSA-2020-4650 Moderate: cloud-init security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 10, 2020
- ELSA-2020-3898 Moderate: cloud-init security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Oct 6, 2020