CVE-2020-2147 in Mac Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A cross-site request forgery vulnerability in Jenkins Mac Plugin 1.1.0 and earlier allows attackers to connect to an attacker-specified SSH server using attacker-specified credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2020
The cross-site request forgery vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2147 resides within the Jenkins Mac Plugin version 1.1.0 and earlier, presenting a significant security risk that enables unauthorized attackers to exploit the plugin's functionality for malicious purposes. This vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of SSH server connections, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the system's behavior through crafted requests that appear legitimate to the Jenkins server. The flaw fundamentally undermines the integrity of the plugin's authentication and connection mechanisms, potentially allowing unauthorized access to systems that rely on Jenkins for Mac-based automation tasks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied parameters within the plugin's SSH connection handling code. When users configure SSH server connections through the Jenkins interface, the plugin fails to properly authenticate or verify the legitimacy of the SSH server addresses and credentials provided by users. This weakness creates a CSRF attack surface where malicious actors can construct specially crafted requests that, when executed by authenticated users, trigger unintended SSH connections to attacker-controlled servers. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of web application security and network protocol handling, where the plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms allows attackers to manipulate the system's SSH configuration without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can establish connections to arbitrary SSH servers using attacker-specified credentials, potentially gaining access to sensitive systems that are configured to trust the Jenkins server. This scenario becomes particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Jenkins may be used to manage multiple Mac systems, as the attacker could potentially pivot to other network resources or escalate privileges within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability also poses risks to the confidentiality and integrity of automated build and deployment processes that rely on the plugin's Mac-specific functionalities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Jenkins Mac Plugin version 1.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the CSRF vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict access to Jenkins configuration interfaces, implement proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and ensure that only trusted users have the ability to configure SSH connections through the plugin. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to establish unauthorized connections and potentially escalate privileges through compromised systems. Regular security auditing of Jenkins plugins and maintaining updated security configurations are essential practices to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the broader Jenkins ecosystem.