CVE-2012-6073 in Jenkins
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in CloudBees Jenkins before 1.491, Jenkins LTS before 1.480.1, and Jenkins Enterprise 1.424.x before 1.424.6.13, 1.447.x before 1.447.4.1, and 1.466.x before 1.466.10.1 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2021
The CVE-2012-6073 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw that affected multiple versions of CloudBees Jenkins, a widely used continuous integration and delivery platform. This vulnerability existed in various Jenkins releases including the standard version before 1.491, the long-term support version before 1.480.1, and specific enterprise versions with their respective patch levels. The flaw allowed remote attackers to manipulate the application's redirect functionality, potentially enabling them to direct users to malicious websites and conduct sophisticated phishing attacks against the organization's workforce.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within Jenkins' redirect mechanisms. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that would cause the application to redirect users to attacker-controlled domains. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-601, which specifically addresses URL redirection and forward slash vulnerabilities. The flaw essentially allowed attackers to bypass normal security controls by leveraging legitimate redirect functions to channel users toward malicious endpoints while maintaining the appearance of legitimate Jenkins operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attacks, as it could enable more sophisticated social engineering campaigns. Organizations using affected Jenkins versions faced significant risk of credential theft, malware distribution, and compromise of development environments. Attackers could craft convincing phishing pages that appeared to be legitimate Jenkins interfaces, potentially capturing user credentials or installing malicious software. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Jenkins serves as a central hub for development and deployment activities, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gain access to sensitive development infrastructure.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to patched versions of Jenkins as specified in the vulnerability advisory. Organizations must also deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, while implementing strict input validation controls for all redirect parameters. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing, highlighting its potential for credential theft and initial access. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual redirect traffic patterns, and security awareness training should be conducted to educate users about recognizing phishing attempts that might exploit this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to ensure that all Jenkins installations remain current with security patches and that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the organization's Jenkins infrastructure.