CVE-2019-10296 in Serena SRA Deploy Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Serena SRA Deploy Plugin stores credentials unencrypted in its global configuration file on the Jenkins master where they can be viewed by users with access to the master file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2023
The Jenkins Serena SRA Deploy Plugin vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in credential storage practices that directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the CWE taxonomy under CWE-312. This vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of sensitive authentication information, creating an attack surface that exposes credentials to unauthorized access. The flaw exists because the plugin fails to implement proper encryption mechanisms when storing authentication details in the Jenkins master's global configuration file, which is a fundamental violation of the principle of least privilege and secure credential management. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design practices that align with CWE-522 which addresses insufficiently protected credentials, and CWE-311 which deals with missing encryption of sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to utilize secure storage mechanisms for authentication information. When administrators configure the plugin with credentials for Serena SRA deployments, these credentials are written directly to the Jenkins master file system without any form of encryption or obfuscation. This creates a persistent exposure where any user with file system access to the Jenkins master can directly read the configuration file and extract the stored credentials. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level rather than the application level, meaning that even users who might not have direct administrative access to the Jenkins web interface could potentially compromise the system through file system access. The flaw represents a classic case of insecure data storage that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for Unsecured Credentials, where adversaries can access stored credentials through direct file system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass broader security implications for enterprise environments that rely on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment processes. Organizations using the Serena SRA Deploy Plugin become vulnerable to lateral movement attacks where compromised credentials can be used to access downstream systems and services that depend on the same authentication mechanisms. The exposure of these credentials can lead to unauthorized deployments, code injection attacks, and complete compromise of the CI/CD pipeline. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges within the Jenkins environment and potentially gain access to source code repositories, build artifacts, and other sensitive infrastructure components. The vulnerability also creates compliance issues for organizations subject to security standards such as SOC 2, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001, where proper credential handling and storage are mandatory requirements. This flaw can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors, making it particularly dangerous in environments where privileged access is not strictly controlled.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of the Jenkins Serena SRA Deploy Plugin where encryption is properly implemented for credential storage. The recommended approach involves implementing proper credential encryption at rest, ensuring that all authentication information is protected through strong cryptographic mechanisms before being written to the file system. Additionally, organizations should implement strict file system access controls using principle of least privilege, limiting access to Jenkins master configuration files to only authorized personnel with legitimate administrative needs. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to prevent unauthorized file system access to the Jenkins master, while monitoring should be deployed to detect any suspicious file access patterns. The solution should also include regular security audits and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other Jenkins plugins and the overall CI/CD infrastructure, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's emphasis on defensive measures and continuous monitoring. Organizations should also consider implementing centralized credential management solutions such as HashiCorp Vault or Jenkins Credentials Binding Plugin to provide secure storage and retrieval of authentication information without exposing sensitive data in clear text within the Jenkins configuration files.