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Risk R-007 - Malicious configuration deployment via Automation Platform

FieldValue
Risk IDR-007
AssetAnsible / Gitea Platform (Platform – Owner: Dev)
ScenarioS-006 - Compromise of automation platform
Likelihood🟧 Possible - access to playbooks or malicious commits could trigger automatic deployment
Impact🟥 High - automatic deployment of compromised configuration may propagate malware or misconfiguration throughout infrastructure
Risk Level🟥 High
OwnerDev
Last Review2026-03-08
Next Review2026-09-08

Associated Controls:

  • Enforce code review for all automation playbooks before deployment.
  • Use signed commits and secure repository access (RBAC, MFA).
  • Isolate automation platform with restricted network access.
  • Monitor deployments for abnormal activity and validate configurations via CI/CD checks.
  • Maintain versioned backups of playbooks and configuration templates.

References:

  • ISO 27001 - Control 5.1 Policies for information security.
  • ISO 27001 - Control 8.2 Privileged access rights.
  • ISO 27001 - Control 8.17 Change management.
  • NIST CSF - PR.IP Information Protection Processes and Procedures.
  • NIST CSF - PR.AC Identity Management, Authentication and Access Control.
  • EBIOS RM - Analysis of risks related to automated configuration deployment and propagation.

Response Actions:

  • Containment - Immediately halt automated deployments and isolate affected systems.
  • Eradication - Remove malicious changes from playbooks and rollback affected systems to known-good configurations.
  • Recovery - Redeploy validated configurations, ensure CI/CD pipelines are secure.
  • Post-incident - Perform root cause analysis, update playbook approval procedures, and reinforce deployment safeguards.