CVE-2018-1000183 in GitHub Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A exposure of sensitive information vulnerability exists in Jenkins GitHub Plugin 1.29.0 and older in GitHubServerConfig.java that allows attackers with Overall/Read access to connect to an attacker-specified URL using attacker-specified credentials IDs obtained through another method, capturing credentials stored in Jenkins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1000183 represents a critical information exposure flaw within the Jenkins GitHub Plugin version 1.29.0 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the GitHubServerConfig.java file and fundamentally undermines the integrity of credential management within Jenkins environments. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers who possess only Overall/Read access permissions to potentially compromise sensitive authentication information stored within the Jenkins system.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from improper handling of credential references within the plugin's configuration management. When Jenkins processes GitHub server configurations, the affected code fails to adequately validate or restrict the URLs that can be accessed through the configured credentials. This improper validation allows malicious actors to specify arbitrary URLs while leveraging legitimate credential IDs that they have obtained through alternative means. The flaw essentially enables a form of credential leakage where attackers can capture stored credentials by crafting specific requests to targeted endpoints.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment workflows. The attack vector requires only minimal privileges, specifically Overall/Read access, which many users within Jenkins environments possess for legitimate operational purposes. This low privilege requirement makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts with relatively limited permissions. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft to potentially enable broader system compromise through lateral movement and privilege escalation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to unauthorized data access. From the ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the credential repository within Jenkins. The attack pattern follows a reconnaissance phase where attackers gather sufficient information to construct malicious requests, followed by exploitation of the credential storage mechanism to capture authentication tokens or passwords.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Jenkins GitHub Plugin version 1.29.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement strict network segmentation to limit access to Jenkins server configurations and credential storage areas. Regular monitoring of Jenkins access logs for unusual URL access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced more rigorously, ensuring that users only receive the minimum permissions necessary for their roles. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers and credential management solutions to reduce the impact of potential credential exposure incidents.