CVE-2020-2199 in Subversion Partial Release Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Subversion Partial Release Manager Plugin 1.0.1 and earlier does not escape the error message for the repository URL field form validation, resulting in a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2199 affects the Jenkins Subversion Partial Release Manager Plugin version 1.0.1 and earlier, presenting a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw that emerges from inadequate input sanitization within the plugin's form validation mechanism. This vulnerability specifically targets the repository URL field where error messages are displayed without proper HTML escaping, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical flaw stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper output encoding when displaying error messages related to repository URL validation. When users input malformed or malicious data into the repository URL field, the plugin returns error messages containing unescaped user input directly to the browser interface. This reflects the core issue where the plugin does not distinguish between legitimate error content and potentially malicious script code, allowing attackers to craft inputs that when processed and displayed as error messages, execute unintended JavaScript payloads. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws due to insufficient output escaping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables authenticated attackers with access to the Jenkins instance to perform reflected XSS attacks against other users who interact with the affected plugin interface. An attacker could craft a malicious repository URL that, when entered and validated by the plugin, would display a crafted error message containing malicious JavaScript. When other users view this error message in their browser, the injected script would execute in their context, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Jenkins is used for continuous integration and deployment processes, making it a prime target for supply chain attacks.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating the affected plugin to version 1.0.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper HTML escaping of error messages. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities within the Jenkins interface. Additionally, regular security scanning of Jenkins plugins should be conducted to identify outdated components that may contain similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing techniques, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through crafted error messages. Organizations should also enforce principle of least privilege for Jenkins users and implement proper input validation at multiple layers to prevent similar issues in other components of the CI/CD pipeline.