CVE-2014-3666 in Jenkins
Summary
by MITRE
CloudBees Jenkins before 1.583 and LTS before 1.565.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted packet to the CLI channel.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3666 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in CloudBees Jenkins versions prior to 1.583 and LTS versions prior to 1.565.3. This vulnerability exists within the Jenkins command line interface channel implementation and allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The flaw specifically affects the deserialization process within the CLI channel, where crafted malicious packets can trigger unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization in the Jenkins CLI communication mechanism, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by remote threat actors without requiring authentication or prior access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of Java deserialization mechanisms within the Jenkins CLI channel. When Jenkins processes incoming CLI packets, it deserializes objects from the network stream without adequate validation of the serialized data. This deserialization flaw allows attackers to craft malicious packets containing specially crafted serialized objects that, when processed by the Jenkins server, execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Jenkins user. The vulnerability is classified as a deserialization vulnerability and maps to CWE-502 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses unsafe deserialization practices that can lead to remote code execution. The attack vector leverages the Jenkins CLI channel's network communication protocol, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited over the network without requiring any local access or credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and encompasses multiple critical security implications for Jenkins installations. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain complete control over affected Jenkins servers, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, and further lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects both standard Jenkins releases and Long Term Support versions, indicating a widespread exposure across different deployment scenarios. Organizations using Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment pipelines face significant risk as attackers could compromise build processes, access source code repositories, and manipulate deployment workflows. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as the exploitation results in arbitrary code execution through the command line interface. Additionally, it maps to T1078.004 for valid accounts, as the attack can occur through legitimate CLI channel communications, making detection more challenging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3666 primarily focus on upgrading Jenkins to patched versions that address the deserialization vulnerability in the CLI channel. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Jenkins version 1.583 or LTS version 1.565.3, which contain fixes for the deserialization flaw. Network-level protections should include restricting access to Jenkins CLI ports and implementing firewall rules that limit communication to trusted sources only. The Jenkins security team recommends disabling the CLI channel entirely if it is not required for operations, as this removes the attack surface entirely. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring to detect unusual CLI channel traffic patterns and enabling Jenkins security features such as CSRF protection and access control restrictions. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for known exploit patterns and regularly audit Jenkins configurations to ensure that unnecessary services remain disabled. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure deserialization practices and proper input validation in enterprise software systems, particularly those handling network communications and user-provided data.