CVE-2012-4439 in Jenkins
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) in Jenkins main before 1.482 and LTS before 1.466.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL that points to Jenkins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4439 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Jenkins continuous integration server software. This vulnerability affects Jenkins versions prior to 1.482 for the main release line and 1.466.2 for the long term support branch, exposing systems to remote code execution through malicious web script injection. The flaw specifically resides in how Jenkins processes and handles crafted URLs, creating an avenue for attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, making it a classic example of insecure input handling that enables malicious code execution in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious URLs that, when accessed through a vulnerable Jenkins instance, trigger the execution of injected scripts within the browser context of authenticated users. This type of attack leverages the trust relationship between the user's browser and the Jenkins server, allowing attackers to execute malicious code in the victim's session. The flaw essentially permits attackers to manipulate the application's URL handling mechanism to inject malicious content that persists in the web interface, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the Jenkins environment. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes the use of malicious web content to gain access to systems through user interaction.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4439 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges within the Jenkins environment. When exploited successfully, attackers can access sensitive build information, credentials stored within Jenkins, and potentially gain access to underlying systems that Jenkins interacts with. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Jenkins serves as a central automation platform, as it can provide attackers with a foothold to compromise entire CI/CD pipelines and access to source code repositories. Organizations running vulnerable Jenkins instances face significant risk of unauthorized access to build artifacts, potential code injection into production systems, and exposure of sensitive corporate data. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity of the CI/CD process, as attackers could potentially modify build processes or inject malicious code into the automated workflow. The remediation strategy involves immediate upgrade to Jenkins versions 1.482 or later for the main line and 1.466.2 or later for LTS releases, alongside implementation of web application firewall rules to detect and block malicious URL patterns. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their Jenkins installations and review access controls to minimize the potential impact of such attacks.