CVE-2019-1003004 in Jenkins
Summary
by MITRE
An improper authorization vulnerability exists in Jenkins 2.158 and earlier, LTS 2.150.1 and earlier in core/src/main/java/hudson/security/AuthenticationProcessingFilter2.java that allows attackers to extend the duration of active HTTP sessions indefinitely even though the user account may have been deleted in the mean time.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2020
This vulnerability resides in the core authentication processing mechanism of Jenkins, specifically within the AuthenticationProcessingFilter2.java component that governs session management for HTTP requests. The flaw represents a critical authorization bypass that allows malicious actors to exploit the session duration logic even after user accounts have been removed from the system. This improper authorization condition stems from the application's failure to properly validate session legitimacy against current user account status, creating a persistent security risk where deleted users can maintain access through extended sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Jenkins processes authentication requests and fails to validate whether the underlying user account remains active or has been deleted during the session lifetime. The flaw specifically affects versions prior to 2.158 for standard releases and 2.150.1 for LTS versions, indicating a widespread issue within the authentication framework that has persisted across multiple release streams. Attackers can leverage this weakness by maintaining active sessions long after account deletion, effectively bypassing the intended security controls that should terminate access upon account removal. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and system compromise. An attacker who gains access through this vulnerability can maintain persistent access to Jenkins resources even after legitimate users have been removed from the system, making it particularly dangerous for environments where user accounts are frequently managed or rotated. The indefinite session extension capability creates a significant risk for audit trails and access logging, as administrators cannot rely on session termination as an indicator of account status changes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential stuffing or session hijacking.
Mitigation strategies must include immediate upgrade to patched Jenkins versions where the authentication processing filter has been corrected to properly validate account status during session processing. Organizations should implement additional session monitoring and enforcement mechanisms that periodically validate account legitimacy against current system state, particularly for long-running sessions. The fix requires modifications to the authentication filter to ensure that session tokens are invalidated when associated user accounts are deleted or disabled. Security teams should also consider implementing automated session cleanup processes and enhanced logging to detect anomalous session behavior. Additional protective measures include implementing session timeout policies, regular account reviews, and network-level access controls that complement the application-level fixes to provide defense-in-depth against session management vulnerabilities.