CVE-2018-1000189 in Absint Astree Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A command execution vulnerability exists in Jenkins Absint Astree Plugin 1.0.5 and older in AstreeBuilder.java that allows attackers with Overall/Read access to execute a command on the Jenkins master.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1000189 represents a critical command execution flaw within the Jenkins Absint Astree Plugin version 1.0.5 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the AstreeBuilder.java component of the plugin, which is designed to integrate static analysis tools into Jenkins continuous integration pipelines. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where the Astree plugin is installed and configured, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on Jenkins for their software development workflows. The flaw enables attackers with minimal privileges to escalate their access and execute arbitrary commands on the Jenkins master server, potentially compromising the entire build infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the plugin's command execution mechanism. When the AstreeBuilder processes certain inputs, it fails to properly sanitize or escape parameters before incorporating them into system commands. This classic command injection vulnerability allows an attacker to manipulate the execution flow by injecting malicious command sequences that get executed with the privileges of the Jenkins master process. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only Overall/Read access, which is often granted to developers and other team members who should not have the ability to execute arbitrary system commands. This privilege escalation scenario violates fundamental security principles and demonstrates a critical flaw in the plugin's access control and input handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1000189 extends far beyond simple command execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise of the Jenkins master server. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain access to source code repositories, build artifacts, and sensitive configuration data stored on the Jenkins server. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that Jenkins masters often have elevated privileges and may be connected to production environments, databases, and other critical systems. This vulnerability directly aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for command and script injection, and it can be leveraged as a stepping stone for further lateral movement within the network. Organizations may experience data breaches, code tampering, and disruption of their continuous integration processes, potentially affecting multiple development teams and their software delivery pipelines.
The recommended mitigation strategy for CVE-2018-1000189 involves immediate patching of the Jenkins Absint Astree Plugin to version 1.0.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the command injection vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of Jenkins servers to untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include restricting Jenkins plugin installations to authorized administrators only, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect suspicious command execution patterns and establish incident response procedures specifically for Jenkins-related security incidents. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-77 allows security teams to implement proper input sanitization and parameterized command execution techniques as preventive measures. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other Jenkins plugins and the core Jenkins platform itself.