CVE-2020-2310 in Ansible Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2020
Missing permission checks in Jenkins Ansible Plugin 1.0 and earlier allow attackers with Overall/Read permission to enumerate credentials IDs of credentials stored in Jenkins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-2310 represents a critical authorization bypass issue within the Jenkins Ansible Plugin version 1.0 and earlier. This flaw exists in the permission validation mechanisms that govern access to sensitive credential information within the Jenkins continuous integration and delivery platform. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where the Ansible plugin is installed and configured, creating a scenario where unauthorized users can gain access to credential information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control checks within the plugin's credential enumeration functionality. When users with only Overall/Read permission attempt to access credential information through the Ansible plugin interface, the system fails to properly verify whether these users should have access to the specific credential IDs. This missing permission check creates a pathway for attackers to discover and enumerate all credential identifiers stored within the Jenkins instance, effectively bypassing the intended access controls that should restrict such information to authorized administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to gather comprehensive information about the credential landscape within a Jenkins environment. Once an attacker has enumerated credential IDs, they can potentially use this information as a foundation for further attacks, including credential brute force attempts, social engineering campaigns, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities that may exist in the credential management system. This enumeration capability undermines the fundamental security principle of least privilege and provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to escalate their access within the system.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which involves credential access through the discovery of stored credentials, as attackers can now systematically enumerate credential IDs without proper authorization. Organizations running vulnerable Jenkins instances face increased risk of credential compromise and potential system infiltration, as the enumeration capability provides attackers with systematic access to credential information that should remain protected.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrade of the Jenkins Ansible Plugin to version 1.1 or later, which contains the necessary permission checks to prevent unauthorized credential enumeration. System administrators should also review and enforce proper access controls within their Jenkins instances, ensuring that users have appropriate authorization levels and that unnecessary permissions are not granted. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual credential access patterns and establish regular security audits to identify potential unauthorized access attempts. Network segmentation and additional authentication controls should be considered as part of a comprehensive security posture to limit the impact of such vulnerabilities in the event of successful exploitation.