CVE-2016-4988 in Build Failure Analyzer Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Build Failure Analyzer plugin before 1.16.0 in Jenkins allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an unspecified parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The Cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4988 affects the Build Failure Analyzer plugin within Jenkins continuous integration platform. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 1.16.0 and represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's parameter handling processes, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors seeking to compromise Jenkins environments.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of user-supplied input parameters within the Build Failure Analyzer plugin functionality. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that target unspecified parameters within the plugin's web interface, allowing them to inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content. This occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user-provided data before rendering it in web responses, creating a classic XSS vulnerability that operates at the client-side execution level. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive credentials, manipulate user interface elements, or redirect users to malicious websites. In Jenkins environments, where build failure analysis data often contains sensitive project information and build artifacts, successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to continuous integration pipelines, compromise of build processes, and potential data exfiltration. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Jenkins for automated build and deployment processes, as attackers could manipulate the build failure reporting mechanisms to gain deeper access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4988 involve immediate patching of the Build Failure Analyzer plugin to version 1.16.0 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including web application firewalls, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security assessments of Jenkins plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing proper security controls as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application vulnerabilities. Regular monitoring and vulnerability scanning of Jenkins environments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues across the entire continuous integration infrastructure.