CVE-2018-1000108 in CppNCSS Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in Jenkins CppNCSS Plugin 1.1 and earlier in AbstractProjectAction/index.jelly that allow an attacker to craft links to Jenkins URLs that run arbitrary JavaScript in the user's browser when accessed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1000108 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Jenkins CppNCSS Plugin version 1.1 and earlier. This security weakness specifically resides in the AbstractProjectAction/index.jelly file, which serves as a user interface component for project actions within the Jenkins continuous integration platform. The vulnerability enables malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser when they access specially crafted links, thereby compromising the security of Jenkins environments that utilize this plugin.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the jelly template file that renders project action interfaces. When Jenkins processes user-provided data through the AbstractProjectAction/index.jelly template, it fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads through URL parameters or project names that are then rendered directly into the web page without appropriate security measures. The vulnerability manifests as a classic XSS attack vector where the plugin's interface becomes a conduit for executing unauthorized client-side scripts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the victim's browser context. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even escalate privileges within the Jenkins environment. Given that Jenkins is commonly used in enterprise settings for build automation and deployment processes, the potential for damage increases significantly when attackers can manipulate the CI/CD pipeline through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and demonstrates how insecure input handling in web application components can create persistent security risks.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of the CppNCSS plugin to version 1.2 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution within Jenkins environments, and establish proper input validation procedures for all user-provided data. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for phishing techniques, as attackers may use this vulnerability to craft malicious links for social engineering campaigns. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns can help detect exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments of Jenkins plugins should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the continuous integration infrastructure.