CVE-2020-2274 in ElasTest Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Jenkins ElasTest Plugin 1.2.1 and earlier stores its server password unencrypted in its global configuration file on the Jenkins controller where it can be viewed by users with access to the Jenkins controller file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2274 affects the Jenkins ElasTest Plugin version 1.2.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in how sensitive authentication credentials are handled within the Jenkins ecosystem. This issue stems from the plugin's improper storage mechanism for server passwords, which are persisted in an unencrypted format within the global configuration file of the Jenkins controller. The vulnerability exposes a fundamental weakness in Jenkins' credential management practices, where administrative and operational credentials are stored without adequate cryptographic protection, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who gain access to the underlying file system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's configuration storage mechanism failing to apply proper encryption or obfuscation to sensitive password fields. When administrators configure the ElasTest plugin to connect to external test environments, the server credentials are written directly to the Jenkins controller's configuration files without any form of encryption or hashing. This design flaw directly violates established security principles for credential storage and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, as it provides unauthorized access to authentication material that should remain protected. The configuration files are typically stored in the Jenkins home directory, making them accessible to any user with file system permissions on the controller, which encompasses a broad range of potential threat actors from internal malicious users to external attackers who have compromised system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to connected test environments and potentially compromise the entire testing infrastructure. Once an attacker obtains the unencrypted password, they can execute arbitrary commands against the ElasTest server, potentially leading to data exfiltration, service disruption, or even lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability also creates a persistent threat vector since the compromised credentials remain valid until manually changed, providing attackers with extended access windows. This issue particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on automated testing environments and continuous integration pipelines, where the compromise of test infrastructure can lead to significant operational disruptions and potential exposure of sensitive data through compromised test environments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the patched version of the ElasTest plugin, which addresses the unencrypted credential storage issue through proper encryption mechanisms. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of all Jenkins plugin configurations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the deployment. The mitigation strategy should include implementing file system access controls to restrict access to Jenkins configuration directories, utilizing Jenkins' built-in credential management systems, and considering the implementation of additional security layers such as encrypted file systems or restricted user permissions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper encryption, and represents a clear violation of ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which focuses on unsecured credentials stored in configuration files. The incident highlights the critical importance of secure credential handling practices in CI/CD environments and underscores the need for comprehensive security controls throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in automated testing infrastructure.