CVE-2020-2145 in Zephyr Enterprise Test Management Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Zephyr Enterprise Test Management Plugin 1.9.1 and earlier stores its Zephyr password in plain text on the Jenkins master file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2145 affects the Jenkins Zephyr Enterprise Test Management Plugin version 1.9.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in how authentication credentials are handled within the Jenkins continuous integration environment. This issue manifests when the plugin stores Zephyr password credentials in plaintext format on the Jenkins master server's file system, creating a significant exposure point for unauthorized access. The vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of Jenkins installations that utilize this specific plugin for test management integration, as it violates fundamental security principles regarding credential storage and handling.
The technical flaw stems from the plugin's insecure credential storage mechanism where user authentication information is persisted without any form of encryption or obfuscation. When administrators configure the plugin to connect to Zephyr Enterprise Test Management systems, the password is written directly to disk in readable format rather than being encrypted or hashed. This plain text storage approach creates multiple attack vectors for threat actors who gain access to the Jenkins master file system through various means such as privilege escalation, insecure file permissions, or other system-level compromises. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) which specifically addresses the improper storage of sensitive data in an easily readable format.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to Zephyr Enterprise Test Management systems and potentially escalate their privileges within the broader test management ecosystem. Jenkins administrators who rely on this plugin for automated testing workflows face significant risk of unauthorized test data manipulation, test result tampering, or complete access to sensitive test environments. The vulnerability also affects the integrity of continuous integration pipelines that depend on Zephyr integration, potentially allowing attackers to inject malicious code or manipulate test execution results. This exposure can compromise the entire software development lifecycle, affecting code quality assurance processes and potentially enabling supply chain attacks.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with upgrading to plugin versions 1.9.2 or later where the plaintext storage issue has been resolved. Organizations must conduct comprehensive audits of their Jenkins installations to identify all systems utilizing this plugin and verify proper credential handling mechanisms. System administrators should review file system permissions and access controls around Jenkins master directories to minimize potential exposure points. The remediation process should also include implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation, privileged access management, and regular security scanning of Jenkins environments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Credentials in Files) which focuses on discovering credentials stored in files, and T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts) when considering the broader impact on integrated systems. Organizations should also consider implementing credential rotation procedures and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to the Jenkins master system, as the presence of plaintext credentials significantly increases the attack surface and potential for persistent threats within the development infrastructure.