CVE-2014-3663 in Jenkins
Summary
by MITRE
CloudBees Jenkins before 1.583 and LTS before 1.565.3 allows remote authenticated users with the Job/CONFIGURE permission to bypass intended restrictions and create or destroy arbitrary jobs via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3663 represents a critical access control flaw within CloudBees Jenkins continuous integration platform affecting versions prior to 1.583 and LTS versions prior to 1.565.3. This issue stems from improper authorization checks that allow authenticated users with minimal privileges to escalate their permissions and manipulate the Jenkins job configuration system beyond their intended scope. The vulnerability specifically targets users who possess the Job/CONFIGURE permission, which is typically granted to developers or team members who need to modify existing job configurations but should not have the ability to create or delete jobs entirely. The flaw manifests through unspecified vectors that bypass the normal security boundaries designed to prevent such privilege escalation.
From a technical perspective this vulnerability falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, where the system fails to properly enforce authorization mechanisms. The flaw allows authenticated users to circumvent the intended security model of Jenkins by exploiting weaknesses in the permission validation system. When users with Job/CONFIGURE permissions attempt to perform operations that should be restricted, the system fails to properly validate whether these actions fall within their authorized scope. This creates a pathway for malicious or unauthorized actions that can significantly impact the integrity and availability of the continuous integration environment. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where users can perform actions beyond what their assigned permissions should allow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating potential for significant disruption and security compromise within Jenkins environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create malicious jobs that might execute unauthorized code, destroy critical build configurations, or manipulate the build pipeline in ways that could affect software delivery processes. The ability to delete arbitrary jobs could result in loss of important build configurations, while creating unauthorized jobs might allow attackers to inject malicious code into the continuous integration process. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Jenkins for automated builds and deployments, as it undermines the trust model that Jenkins uses to secure its job management functions. The impact is compounded in environments where Jenkins serves as a central component of DevOps workflows, as it could potentially disrupt entire development pipelines.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3663 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Jenkins installations to versions 1.583 or LTS 1.565.3 and subsequent releases. Organizations should conduct thorough audits of their Jenkins configurations to identify users with Job/CONFIGURE permissions and reassess their privilege assignments. The implementation of additional security controls such as role-based access control enhancements and regular permission reviews can help reduce the risk of exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual job creation or deletion patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations using Jenkins should follow the ATT&CK framework's guidance on privilege escalation techniques and ensure their defensive measures include detection of unauthorized access attempts. Regular security assessments of Jenkins environments and adherence to security best practices for CI/CD systems will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the critical nature of proper access control implementation in automated development environments.