CVE-2019-10313 in Twitter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Twitter 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 • 09/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10313 affects the Jenkins Twitter Plugin, exposing a critical security flaw in how credentials are managed within the Jenkins ecosystem. This issue stems from the plugin's improper handling of authentication data, specifically storing sensitive information in plain text format within the global configuration file of the Jenkins master server. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in secure credential management practices and creates a significant attack surface for malicious actors who gain access to the Jenkins master file system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's configuration storage mechanism where Twitter API credentials including consumer keys and secrets are persisted without any form of encryption or obfuscation. When administrators configure the Twitter plugin to send notifications or integrate with Twitter services, the plugin writes these credentials directly to the Jenkins configuration file located on the master node's file system. This design choice violates established security principles for credential storage and creates an inherent risk that persists across all Jenkins operations where the plugin is installed and configured.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables unauthorized access to Twitter integration credentials through simple file system enumeration or direct access to the Jenkins master server. Any user with file system access to the Jenkins master can read the global configuration file and extract the stored credentials, potentially allowing them to impersonate the Jenkins server on Twitter platforms. This compromise can lead to unauthorized posting of messages, potential spamming activities, and unauthorized access to Twitter accounts associated with the Jenkins instance. The impact extends beyond immediate credential theft as attackers can leverage these credentials to perform actions that may be traced back to the compromised Jenkins infrastructure, potentially causing reputational damage and service disruption.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a clear violation of secure configuration management practices. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Unsecured Credentials) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it enables adversaries to obtain valid credentials through system-level access. Organizations using Jenkins with the Twitter plugin face significant risk of credential exposure, particularly in environments where file system access controls are not properly enforced or where multiple users have elevated privileges on the master server. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing proper credential management practices and the dangers of storing sensitive information in plaintext within application configuration files.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-10313 require immediate action to address the current exposure while implementing long-term secure credential management practices. Organizations should immediately upgrade to the patched version of the Jenkins Twitter Plugin where credentials are properly encrypted and handled. System administrators must implement strict file system access controls on the Jenkins master server, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access configuration files and that appropriate permissions are enforced. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing alternative credential management approaches such as using Jenkins' built-in credential store or external secrets management solutions that provide proper encryption and access controls for sensitive information. Regular security audits of Jenkins plugins and configuration files should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that all credential storage practices follow established security guidelines and industry best practices for protecting sensitive authentication data.