CVE-2014-3664 in Jenkins
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in CloudBees Jenkins before 1.583 and LTS before 1.565.3 allows remote authenticated users with the Overall/READ permission to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3664 represents a directory traversal flaw within CloudBees Jenkins continuous integration platform that affects versions prior to 1.583 and LTS versions prior to 1.565.3. This directory traversal vulnerability specifically targets the file system access controls within Jenkins, enabling authenticated attackers who possess the Overall/READ permission to access arbitrary files on the underlying system. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file path traversal sequences, allowing malicious users to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access sensitive system files. The vulnerability operates through unspecified vectors that typically involve manipulating file path parameters within Jenkins web interfaces or API endpoints, exploiting the lack of proper path validation in the application's file handling mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ in file path parameters, thereby bypassing normal access controls and gaining unauthorized access to system resources. The authentication requirement of Overall/READ permission indicates that this vulnerability can be exploited by users who have basic read access to the Jenkins instance but do not possess administrative privileges, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective. This access level allows attackers to read configuration files, build scripts, credential stores, and potentially sensitive environment variables that may contain database connection strings, API keys, or other confidential information.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3664 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can potentially expose critical system information that could facilitate further attacks within the organization's infrastructure. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability may discover sensitive data stored in Jenkins configuration files, including stored credentials, build history information, and potentially access to source code repositories or build artifacts. The vulnerability's presence in both regular and LTS versions of Jenkins indicates that it was a widespread issue affecting multiple deployment scenarios, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on long-term support releases for stability. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to information disclosure, privilege escalation, and potentially serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the Jenkins environment or the broader network infrastructure. Organizations may experience compliance violations and security breaches when this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in regulated environments where access control and data protection are critical requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3664 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Jenkins installations to versions 1.583 or later for regular releases and 1.565.3 or later for LTS releases, which contain the necessary security fixes to prevent directory traversal attacks. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of Jenkins instances to untrusted networks, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the system. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious file access patterns or attempts to traverse directory structures through Jenkins interfaces. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their Jenkins installations, review access controls, and ensure that users have only the minimum necessary permissions to perform their required tasks. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical infrastructure components such as continuous integration servers. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, highlighting its potential for broader security implications beyond simple information disclosure.