CVE-2019-10451 in SOASTA CloudTest Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins SOASTA CloudTest 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 • 10/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10451 affects the Jenkins SOASTA CloudTest plugin, representing a critical security flaw in how authentication credentials are managed within the Jenkins ecosystem. This issue stems from the plugin's improper handling of sensitive information during the configuration process, specifically storing user credentials in plain text format within the global configuration file. The flaw exists at the configuration persistence layer where the plugin fails to implement appropriate encryption mechanisms for credential storage, creating an inherent security risk that undermines the integrity of the entire Jenkins infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the SOASTA CloudTest plugin processes user inputs containing authentication credentials for cloud testing environments. During the configuration save operation, the plugin writes these credentials directly to the Jenkins master's file system without applying any form of encryption or obfuscation. This unencrypted storage approach violates fundamental security principles and creates a direct attack surface where any user with file system access to the Jenkins master can extract these credentials using standard file reading operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-312 as "Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information" and represents a failure in the secure credential management practices that should be enforced across all Jenkins plugins.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it creates a persistent risk for organizations utilizing Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment workflows. Attackers who gain file system access to the Jenkins master can immediately extract all stored credentials for SOASTA CloudTest environments, potentially gaining unauthorized access to cloud resources, test environments, and production systems. This exposure can lead to unauthorized code deployments, data breaches, and compromise of sensitive testing environments that often contain production-like data. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege and undermines the trust model that Jenkins relies upon for secure automation processes, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Jenkins serves as a central automation hub.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including restricting file system access to the Jenkins master, implementing file system permissions controls, and conducting thorough audits of stored credentials. The recommended approach involves upgrading to a patched version of the SOASTA CloudTest plugin that implements proper credential encryption mechanisms, while also ensuring that all Jenkins master file systems are protected through network segmentation and access control measures. Security teams should also consider implementing credential rotation procedures and monitoring for unauthorized file access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for "Unsecured Credentials" and represents a failure in the Jenkins security model that requires immediate remediation to prevent potential exploitation through lateral movement or privilege escalation attacks.