CVE-2020-2261 in Perfecto Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins Perfecto Plugin 1.17 and earlier executes a command on the Jenkins controller, allowing attackers with Job/Configure permission to run arbitrary commands on the Jenkins controller
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2261 affects the Jenkins Perfecto Plugin version 1.17 and earlier, presenting a critical command execution flaw that enables attackers with minimal permissions to compromise the Jenkins controller. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and unsafe command execution practices within the plugin's implementation, creating a path for privilege escalation and remote code execution. The flaw specifically targets the Jenkins controller rather than worker nodes, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the Jenkins service account, potentially leading to full system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters that are directly incorporated into shell commands executed on the Jenkins controller. When an attacker with Job/Configure permission modifies job configurations, the plugin processes these inputs without adequate sanitization or validation, allowing malicious payloads to be injected into command execution contexts. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that violates secure coding principles and fails to implement proper input filtering mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94, both of which address command injection and code injection flaws that enable arbitrary code execution through untrusted input manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-2261 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to leverage the Jenkins controller's elevated privileges for further reconnaissance and lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Since Jenkins controllers often have access to sensitive systems, version control repositories, and deployment targets, successful exploitation can lead to data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized system modifications. Attackers can potentially exfiltrate build artifacts, access source code repositories, or modify deployment pipelines to introduce malicious code into production environments. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistence mechanisms within the build infrastructure, making detection and remediation more challenging.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Jenkins Perfecto Plugin version 1.18 or later to address this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for the flawed implementation. System administrators should implement strict access controls and privilege management to limit who can configure jobs within Jenkins, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. The remediation process should include thorough review of existing job configurations to identify any malicious modifications that may have occurred. Additionally, organizations should monitor their Jenkins instances for unusual command execution patterns and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security teams should consider implementing runtime application firewalls or intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious command execution patterns associated with this vulnerability, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution.