CVE-2020-2269 in chosen-views-tabbar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins chosen-views-tabbar Plugin 1.2 and earlier does not escape view names in the dropdown to select views, resulting in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exploitable by attackers with the ability to configure views.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2020
The Jenkins chosen-views-tabbar plugin vulnerability represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that emerged in versions 1.2 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of view names within dropdown menus, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors with view configuration privileges. The flaw demonstrates a classic failure in input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms, where user-provided view names are directly rendered in the web interface without proper HTML escaping.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's inadequate validation and sanitization of view names when they are displayed in dropdown selection interfaces. When administrators or authorized users create views with malicious payloads in their names, these inputs are stored in the Jenkins configuration and subsequently rendered in the dropdown menu without proper HTML escaping. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they interact with the affected dropdown functionality. The vulnerability operates as a stored XSS attack because the malicious code is persisted in the system and executed whenever the affected interface is accessed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the potential to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized operations within the Jenkins environment. An attacker with view configuration permissions can craft view names containing malicious JavaScript payloads that will execute whenever other users interact with the dropdown menu. This creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise multiple users over time, particularly in environments where Jenkins is used for continuous integration and deployment processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate administrative functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making detection more challenging.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique for code injection and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to Jenkins functionality and potentially escalate their privileges within the CI/CD pipeline. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Jenkins installations to address this vulnerability, as the stored nature of the XSS flaw means that even a single compromised view name can affect multiple users over time. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to a patched version of the chosen-views-tabbar plugin, implementing proper input validation, and ensuring that all user-provided content is properly escaped before rendering in web interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious view creation activities as part of their overall security posture.