CVE-2019-10467 in Sonar Gerrit Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Sonar Gerrit 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 • 10/24/2019
The Jenkins Sonar Gerrit Plugin vulnerability CVE-2019-10467 represents a critical security flaw in how authentication credentials are handled within the Jenkins continuous integration environment. This vulnerability specifically affects the storage mechanism of sensitive information within job configuration files, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the security posture of Jenkins installations. The flaw exists in the plugin's implementation where credentials are persisted in plain text format within the master node's configuration files, making them accessible to unauthorized users who possess minimal privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly encrypt or obfuscate sensitive credential data during storage operations. When administrators configure the Sonar Gerrit Plugin to integrate with external systems requiring authentication, the plugin writes these credentials directly to the job config.xml files without applying appropriate cryptographic protection. This design flaw allows attackers with Extended Read permission on the Jenkins master to access these configuration files and extract stored credentials, effectively bypassing the normal authentication mechanisms that should protect sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it enables attackers to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to external systems that the Jenkins jobs interact with. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment workflows, particularly those using the Sonar Gerrit Plugin for code quality integration with Gerrit code review systems. Attackers can leverage these exposed credentials to access source code repositories, build systems, and other integrated services, potentially leading to complete compromise of the CI/CD pipeline and underlying infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312, which describes the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of credentials in stored data.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires minimal privilege escalation to exploit, making it attractive to both internal and external threat actors. Users with Extended Read permission, which is often granted to developers and team members who need to monitor build processes, can access the job configuration files and extract stored credentials. Additionally, attackers with direct file system access to the Jenkins master node can also exploit this vulnerability, further expanding the attack surface. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers the exploitation of credentials stored in configuration files, and demonstrates how insufficient access controls can lead to credential compromise within enterprise environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including the immediate review and removal of stored credentials from affected job configurations, followed by the application of security patches provided by the plugin maintainers. The recommended approach involves configuring Jenkins with proper access controls to limit Extended Read permissions and implementing file system monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to configuration files. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing credential rotation procedures and migrating to more secure credential management solutions that utilize encrypted storage mechanisms or integration with external secret management systems to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their CI/CD infrastructure.