CVE-2020-2237 in Flaky Test Handler Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Jenkins Flaky Test Handler Plugin 1.0.4 and earlier allows attackers to rebuild a project at a previous git revision.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2020
The CVE-2020-2237 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Jenkins Flaky Test Handler Plugin version 1.0.4 and earlier. This vulnerability exposes Jenkins environments to unauthorized actions that can significantly impact build integrity and system security. The Flaky Test Handler Plugin is designed to manage and track flaky tests within continuous integration pipelines, making it a crucial component in automated testing workflows. However, the CSRF vulnerability undermines the security boundaries that should protect these critical operations from malicious actors who exploit the trust relationship between the web browser and the Jenkins server.
The technical flaw stems from the plugin's insufficient validation of cross-site requests when processing rebuild operations at specific git revisions. When a user visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the vulnerability allows an attacker to submit a forged request that appears to originate from an authenticated user. This forgery enables the attacker to manipulate the plugin's functionality to rebuild projects at arbitrary previous git revisions without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of rebuild requests, where it fails to implement proper anti-CSRF tokens or origin validation mechanisms that would normally prevent unauthorized actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it allows attackers to potentially introduce malicious code or destabilize build processes through deliberate revision changes. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to revert projects to vulnerable or compromised versions, potentially introducing security flaws that were previously patched or to disrupt ongoing development workflows. The ability to rebuild at previous git revisions creates opportunities for supply chain attacks, where attackers might restore known vulnerable versions of software components. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on automated testing and continuous integration processes, as it could compromise the integrity of their entire build pipeline and potentially lead to the deployment of insecure software versions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-2237 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF vulnerability, as this represents the most direct solution to the identified flaw. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious CSRF patterns, enforce strict browser security policies through Content Security Policy headers, and utilize Jenkins' built-in CSRF protection mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, as attackers can exploit the trust relationship to perform unauthorized actions. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual rebuild patterns and revision changes that could indicate exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all Jenkins plugins are regularly updated and maintained to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the continuous integration infrastructure.