CVE-2020-2144 in Rundeck Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Rundeck Plugin 3.6.6 and earlier does not configure its XML parser to prevent XML external entity (XXE) attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2144 affects the Jenkins Rundeck Plugin version 3.6.6 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exposes systems to XML external entity attacks. This issue stems from inadequate configuration of the XML parser within the plugin, which fails to properly restrict external entity resolution during XML processing operations. The vulnerability creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the plugin's XML handling capabilities, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, server-side request forgery, and other severe security implications.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to disable external entity resolution in its XML parser configuration. When the plugin processes XML input from untrusted sources, it does not implement proper security measures such as setting the XMLResolver to null or disabling external entity processing. This configuration oversight allows attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that can reference external resources, potentially causing the system to fetch sensitive data from internal networks or perform unauthorized operations. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 weakness category, which specifically addresses improper restriction of XML external entities, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of vulnerability in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to perform server-side request forgery attacks by making the vulnerable system contact internal services that would normally be restricted. This can lead to information disclosure, denial of service conditions, and potentially full system compromise if the targeted services are particularly sensitive. The vulnerability affects Jenkins environments where the Rundeck plugin is installed and actively used, creating a persistent threat vector that remains active until properly patched or mitigated.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including updating to the patched version of the Jenkins Rundeck Plugin, which addresses the XML parser configuration issues. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, configuring firewall rules to restrict external network access to XML processing endpoints, and monitoring for suspicious XML processing activities. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious XML payloads attempting XXE attacks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which covers data from local system, and represents a significant risk to CI/CD pipeline security where Jenkins serves as a central automation platform.