CVE-2019-10448 in Extensive Testing Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Extensive Testing Plugin stores credentials unencrypted in job config.xml files on the Jenkins master where they can be viewed by users with Extended Read permission, or access to the master file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10448 affects the Jenkins Extensive Testing Plugin, exposing a critical weakness in credential storage practices within the Jenkins continuous integration and delivery platform. This issue represents a significant security flaw that undermines the integrity of authentication mechanisms within Jenkins environments, particularly affecting organizations that rely on automated testing workflows and pipeline automation. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's improper handling of sensitive authentication data, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors or compromised users with elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's configuration storage mechanism where credentials are written to job configuration files in plain text format without any encryption or obfuscation. This unencrypted storage occurs directly within the Jenkins master node's file system, specifically within the job config.xml files that contain the testing plugin configurations. The vulnerability allows unauthorized access to these credentials through two primary vectors: users who possess Extended Read permission on the Jenkins instance, or individuals who gain direct access to the master node's file system through physical or network compromise. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles regarding credential handling and data protection, as sensitive authentication information is stored in a manner that makes it immediately readable by anyone with appropriate access levels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, creating cascading security risks that can compromise entire Jenkins environments and the systems they interact with. Attackers who obtain access to these unencrypted credentials can potentially escalate their privileges within the Jenkins infrastructure and gain access to downstream systems, repositories, and services that the Jenkins instance authenticates against. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using Jenkins for automated testing of applications, database access, cloud service integration, and other sensitive operations where the testing plugin requires authentication credentials for execution. The exposure of these credentials can lead to unauthorized code deployments, data exfiltration, system compromise, and violation of compliance requirements such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC 27001 standards.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting Extended Read permissions to only essential personnel, implementing robust file system access controls on Jenkins master nodes, and migrating to encrypted credential storage mechanisms within Jenkins. The remediation strategy should incorporate principles from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on privilege escalation and credential access techniques that attackers might exploit through this vulnerability. Security teams should also consider implementing Jenkins credentials binding practices, utilizing Jenkins' built-in credential management systems, and establishing regular audit procedures to detect unauthorized access to configuration files. Additionally, organizations should evaluate their overall Jenkins security posture, implement network segmentation, and consider adopting security controls such as those specified in the CWE-312 category, which addresses the improper handling of sensitive information through clear text storage. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following security best practices in credential management and highlights the necessity of proper encryption implementation in automated systems that handle sensitive authentication data.