CVE-2016-3723 in Jenkins
Summary
by MITRE
CloudBees Jenkins before 2.3 and LTS before 1.651.2 allow remote authenticated users with read access to obtain sensitive plugin installation information by leveraging missing permissions checks in unspecified XML/JSON API endpoints.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2022
CloudBees Jenkins versions prior to 2.3 and LTS versions before 1.651.2 contain a critical security vulnerability that allows authenticated users with read access to extract sensitive plugin installation information through unspecified XML/JSON API endpoints. This vulnerability stems from missing permissions checks within the application's API framework, creating a path for privilege escalation and information disclosure attacks. The flaw specifically affects the XML/JSON API endpoints that handle plugin management operations, where proper access controls are not enforced for read-only users. This represents a significant security weakness that undermines the principle of least privilege and could enable attackers to gather intelligence about installed plugins, their versions, and potentially identify vulnerable components within the Jenkins environment. The vulnerability falls under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the leaked plugin information could serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks targeting known vulnerabilities in specific plugin versions. Attackers could leverage this information to craft targeted exploits against vulnerable plugins, potentially leading to full system compromise. The authentication requirement means that the vulnerability cannot be exploited by anonymous users, but it does represent a significant risk within environments where read access is granted to multiple users. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Jenkins to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability could be exploited by insider threats or compromised accounts with read privileges. The missing permissions checks indicate a broader architectural flaw in the API endpoint design that may affect other similar endpoints within the application. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing comprehensive access control mechanisms for all API endpoints, regardless of their perceived sensitivity. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of their Jenkins installations to identify any other potential endpoints that may be suffering from similar permission control issues. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the importance of regular security assessments to identify and remediate access control weaknesses. Organizations relying on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment should prioritize this update to prevent potential exploitation and maintain the integrity of their automated build processes. The affected versions represent a significant window of vulnerability that could have been exploited by attackers with minimal privileges, making this issue particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Jenkins serves as a critical infrastructure component.