CVE-2020-2198 in Project Inheritance Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Project Inheritance Plugin 19.08.02 and earlier does not redact encrypted secrets in the 'getConfigAsXML' API URL when transmitting job config.xml data to users without Job/Configure.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2198 resides within the Jenkins Project Inheritance Plugin version 19.08.02 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the confidentiality of sensitive configuration data. This issue manifests when the plugin fails to properly redact encrypted secrets within the configuration XML output generated by the 'getConfigAsXML' API endpoint. The flaw occurs specifically during data transmission to users who lack the necessary permissions to configure jobs, creating an unauthorized access vector that exposes sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's API handling mechanisms. When the getConfigAsXML endpoint processes job configuration data, it includes encrypted secret values in the XML output without proper obfuscation or redaction. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of information hiding and privilege separation, as the API should only expose non-sensitive configuration elements to users with limited permissions. The vulnerability directly corresponds to CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to significant compromise of Jenkins environments and their underlying infrastructure. Attackers who can access the getConfigAsXML API endpoint without proper authorization can extract encrypted secrets, passwords, and other sensitive credentials that may be used to escalate privileges within the Jenkins system or gain access to connected services and repositories. This exposure creates a pathway for lateral movement attacks and can facilitate more sophisticated exploitation attempts, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities in the Jenkins ecosystem.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of the Jenkins Project Inheritance Plugin face immediate security risks that require urgent remediation. The vulnerability can be exploited by any user who can access the API endpoint, potentially including unauthenticated attackers or users with minimal permissions. This creates a significant risk for enterprises that rely on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment workflows, where the exposure of secrets could lead to unauthorized code deployments, data breaches, or complete system compromise. The issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers credentials in files, as the encrypted secrets become accessible through API responses that should remain protected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-2198 must prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 19.08.03 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly redact encrypted secrets in API responses. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting access to the getConfigAsXML API endpoint through network-level controls or authentication mechanisms. Configuration reviews should ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive Jenkins functionalities, and that proper role-based access controls are enforced. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to API endpoints that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper API security implementation and the need for regular security assessments of third-party plugins in enterprise environments.