CVE-2018-1000106 in Gerrit Trigger Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
An improper authorization vulnerability exists in Jenkins Gerrit Trigger Plugin 2.27.4 and earlier in GerritManagement.java, GerritServer.java, and PluginImpl.java that allows an attacker with Overall/Read access to modify the Gerrit configuration in Jenkins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1000106 represents a critical authorization flaw within the Jenkins Gerrit Trigger Plugin ecosystem, specifically affecting versions 2.27.4 and earlier. This weakness resides in the core configuration management components including GerritManagement.java, GerritServer.java, and PluginImpl.java files, where insufficient access controls permit unauthorized modification of critical Gerrit integration settings. The vulnerability fundamentally undermines the principle of least privilege by allowing users with minimal Overall/Read access permissions to manipulate the Gerrit configuration parameters that govern Jenkins' interaction with Gerrit code review systems.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and permission checking mechanisms within the plugin's configuration handling code. When users with merely read-level access attempt to interact with Gerrit configuration endpoints, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges required to modify such sensitive settings. This improper authorization check creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors can alter Gerrit server connections, authentication credentials, and other critical configuration parameters without proper authorization. The vulnerability manifests as a failure in the access control matrix that should normally enforce strict separation between read-only operations and configuration modification capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration tampering, as it enables attackers to potentially compromise the entire Jenkins-Gerrit integration pipeline. An attacker could modify the Gerrit server endpoints to redirect traffic to malicious systems, alter authentication settings to gain unauthorized access to Gerrit repositories, or manipulate trigger configurations to disrupt continuous integration workflows. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Jenkins for automated code review integration, as it allows unauthorized modification of the very systems that govern code quality gates and deployment triggers. The consequences include potential data exposure, service disruption, and unauthorized code deployment processes that could lead to supply chain compromises.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of insufficient authorization checks classified under CWE-862, which specifically addresses "Missing Authorization" flaws in software systems. The attack vector aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Privilege Escalation tactic, where adversaries exploit weak access controls to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Jenkins Gerrit Trigger Plugin versions beyond 2.27.4, implementing additional access controls through Jenkins' built-in security features, and conducting thorough audit reviews of all Gerrit configuration settings. Network segmentation and monitoring of configuration change activities should also be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized modifications to critical integration components, as this vulnerability represents a significant risk to continuous integration and deployment pipeline integrity.