CVE-2018-1999040 in Kubernetes Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
An exposure of sensitive information vulnerability exists in Jenkins Kubernetes Plugin 1.10.1 and earlier in KubernetesCloud.java that allows attackers to capture credentials with a known credentials ID stored in Jenkins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1999040 represents a critical sensitive information exposure in the Jenkins Kubernetes Plugin version 1.10.1 and earlier. This flaw resides within the KubernetesCloud.java file and fundamentally undermines the security posture of Jenkins installations that utilize Kubernetes plugin functionality for container orchestration. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to capture credentials that are stored within Jenkins under a known credentials ID, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on automated deployment pipelines and containerized environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and improper credential handling within the Kubernetes plugin's cloud configuration management. When Jenkins administrators configure Kubernetes cloud connections, credentials are typically stored using Jenkins' built-in credentials management system with specific identifiers. However, the flawed implementation in version 1.10.1 and earlier fails to properly restrict access to these credential identifiers, allowing unauthorized users to retrieve credential information through specific API endpoints or configuration queries. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in secure credential storage practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it can lead to complete compromise of container orchestration environments and subsequent lateral movement within network infrastructures. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability gain access to Kubernetes cluster credentials, potentially enabling them to deploy malicious containers, access sensitive data stored in the cluster, modify deployment configurations, and establish persistent access points. The implications are particularly severe in continuous integration and continuous deployment environments where Jenkins serves as a central hub for automated build and deployment processes. According to CWE-200, this vulnerability directly maps to improper exposure of sensitive information, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this under credential access techniques with potential for privilege escalation and lateral movement.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Jenkins Kubernetes Plugin version 1.10.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this credential exposure. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict access controls for Jenkins administrators, utilizing Jenkins' built-in role-based access control features, and regularly auditing credential usage within the system. Security teams should also monitor for unauthorized access attempts and implement network segmentation to limit exposure of Jenkins instances to untrusted networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in distributed system components, particularly those handling authentication credentials for critical infrastructure services.