CVE-2013-5676 in Jenkins Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The Jenkins Plugin for SonarQube 3.7 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information (cleartext passwords) by reading the value in the sonar.sonarPassword parameter from jenkins/configure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5676 affects the Jenkins Plugin for SonarQube version 3.7 and earlier, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive authentication credentials. This issue arises from improper handling of credential storage within the Jenkins configuration interface, specifically when users configure SonarQube integration settings. The vulnerability enables authenticated attackers with access to Jenkins to extract cleartext passwords directly from the configuration parameters, bypassing normal security controls that should protect such sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly secure or mask password values stored in Jenkins configuration files. When administrators configure the SonarQube plugin within Jenkins, they input their SonarQube credentials including passwords. The flaw occurs because these password values are stored in plain text within the Jenkins configuration system, making them accessible to any authenticated user who can read the configuration parameters. This design oversight creates an information disclosure vulnerability that directly violates security best practices for credential management and access control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with immediate access to SonarQube authentication credentials without requiring additional exploitation techniques. An authenticated attacker with access to Jenkins can simply navigate to the configuration interface and extract the sonarPassword parameter value, which contains the cleartext password. This access allows the attacker to potentially gain unauthorized access to SonarQube systems, enabling them to view project data, modify configurations, or perform other malicious activities within the SonarQube environment. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor for privilege escalation and persistent access to critical code quality analysis infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which covers "Information Exposure," and specifically relates to CWE-522, "Insufficiently Protected Credentials," as it exposes authentication credentials without proper protection mechanisms. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, "Credentials In Files," where adversaries attempt to access credentials stored in configuration files. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security implementation practices that violate fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper credential handling, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Jenkins administrators have broad access rights.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to Jenkins Plugin for SonarQube version 3.8 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to properly encrypt or mask password values. Organizations should also implement additional access controls to limit who can view Jenkins configuration settings, particularly those containing sensitive information. Configuration management practices should enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only necessary personnel have access to sensitive configuration parameters. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits of their Jenkins installations to identify and remediate similar credential exposure vulnerabilities across all integrated tools and plugins.