CVE-2019-10461 in Dynatrace Application Monitoring Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Dynatrace Application Monitoring Plugin 2.1.3 and earlier stored credentials unencrypted in its global configuration file on the Jenkins master where they could be viewed by users with access to the master file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10461 affects the Jenkins Dynatrace Application Monitoring Plugin version 2.1.3 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in how credentials are managed within the Jenkins ecosystem. This issue stems from the plugin's improper handling of sensitive authentication information, specifically storing credentials in plain text format within the global configuration file of the Jenkins master server. The vulnerability exposes a fundamental weakness in the plugin's security architecture where authentication tokens, API keys, and other sensitive credentials are persisted without any form of encryption or obfuscation, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who gain access to the Jenkins master file system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's configuration storage mechanism which writes credential data directly to the Jenkins master's file system without applying any cryptographic protection or access controls. When administrators configure the Dynatrace plugin with their monitoring credentials, these values are serialized and stored in the global configuration file, typically located within the Jenkins home directory. The lack of encryption means that any user or process with read access to the master file system can directly extract these credentials, effectively nullifying the security protections that should normally be in place for sensitive authentication data. This flaw directly violates security best practices and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, as credentials are stored in a manner that makes them universally accessible to any entity with filesystem permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it creates a persistent security risk that can compromise entire monitoring infrastructures. Attackers who gain access to the Jenkins master file system can extract not only the Dynatrace credentials but potentially other sensitive information stored in the configuration files, leading to unauthorized access to monitoring data, potential service disruption, and the ability to manipulate monitoring configurations. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where Jenkins master servers are shared or where multiple users have administrative access to the file system, as it enables lateral movement and privilege escalation attacks. The exposure of monitoring credentials can also lead to unauthorized data collection, service abuse, and potential denial of service conditions that impact the monitoring capabilities of the entire infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to address the root cause of the insecure credential storage. Organizations should upgrade to the patched version of the Dynatrace Application Monitoring Plugin that properly encrypts credentials before storage, typically implementing encryption at rest for sensitive configuration data. System administrators must also implement additional access controls to restrict file system access to the Jenkins master, applying the principle of least privilege and ensuring that only authorized personnel have read access to critical configuration files. The implementation of proper credential management practices, including the use of Jenkins credentials stores and secure configuration management systems, should be enforced. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their Jenkins installations to identify any other plugins or configurations that may suffer from similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a clear violation of ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Credentials In Files), emphasizing the critical need for proper encryption and access control mechanisms in all credential storage solutions within enterprise environments.