CVE-2017-1000245 in SSH Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The SSH Plugin stores credentials which allow jobs to access remote servers via the SSH protocol. User passwords and passphrases for encrypted SSH keys are stored in plaintext in a configuration file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000245 resides within the SSH Plugin for Jenkins, a widely used continuous integration and deployment platform. This issue represents a critical security flaw that directly impacts how authentication credentials are managed within the Jenkins environment. The plugin's design flaw allows for the storage of sensitive authentication information in an unencrypted format, creating a significant risk for organizations that rely on Jenkins for automated build and deployment processes. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of user passwords and passphrases used for encrypted SSH keys, which are essential components for secure remote server access within automated workflows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly encrypt or obfuscate sensitive credential data during storage. When users configure Jenkins jobs to access remote servers via SSH, the system stores the associated credentials in a configuration file without applying any form of encryption or encoding. This plaintext storage mechanism means that any individual with access to the Jenkins server's file system can directly read and extract authentication credentials. The flaw exists at the data persistence layer where sensitive information flows through the system without adequate security controls. According to CWE-312, this represents a direct violation of data protection principles by exposing sensitive data in a readable format, while also aligning with CWE-522 which addresses insufficiently protected credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential exposure, creating cascading security risks throughout the Jenkins infrastructure and connected systems. Attackers who gain file system access to the Jenkins server can immediately extract authentication credentials for multiple remote systems, potentially enabling lateral movement across networks and unauthorized access to production environments. This vulnerability directly enables privilege escalation attacks where attackers can leverage compromised Jenkins credentials to access additional systems that may not have the same level of security controls. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Jenkins is often used to deploy applications to critical production servers, as the exposure of SSH credentials can lead to complete system compromise. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) as it provides attackers with legitimate access credentials and enables further reconnaissance activities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to protect their Jenkins environments and prevent credential exposure. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the SSH Plugin where credentials are properly encrypted during storage. Administrators should also implement strict file system access controls, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the Jenkins configuration directories. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to isolate Jenkins servers from critical production systems and establishing monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to Jenkins configuration files. The remediation process should also include credential rotation for all SSH connections managed through the affected plugin, ensuring that any compromised credentials are immediately invalidated. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication for Jenkins administrative access and regular security audits of credential storage mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their CI/CD pipeline.