CVE-2020-2319 in VMware Lab Manager Slaves Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2020
Jenkins VMware Lab Manager Slaves Plugin 0.2.8 and earlier stores a password unencrypted in the global config.xml 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 • 12/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2319 affects the Jenkins VMware Lab Manager Slaves Plugin version 0.2.8 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through improper credential handling within the Jenkins infrastructure. This issue stems from the plugin's failure to implement adequate encryption mechanisms for storing sensitive authentication information, specifically passwords, within the Jenkins controller's configuration files. The flaw creates an inherent weakness in the security architecture by exposing administrative credentials in plain text format, thereby undermining the fundamental principle of least privilege and secure credential management within continuous integration and deployment environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the configuration persistence layer where the plugin writes authentication credentials directly to the global config.xml file without any form of encryption or obfuscation. This configuration file resides within the Jenkins controller's file system, making it accessible to any user or process that can execute file system operations on the controller. The flaw represents a direct violation of security best practices and aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the Jenkins environment, as attackers who gain file system access can immediately extract and utilize these stored credentials to access VMware Lab Manager resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, creating a comprehensive security risk that affects the entire Jenkins ecosystem and its associated infrastructure. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to VMware Lab Manager resources, potentially leading to unauthorized virtual machine provisioning, resource consumption, and data manipulation within the virtualized testing environments. This exposure creates a significant attack surface that can be leveraged for further exploitation, including potential access to underlying cloud infrastructure or other systems that may be accessible through the compromised Lab Manager connections. The vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the CI/CD pipeline, as the compromised credentials could enable attackers to modify build processes, inject malicious code, or manipulate test environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in the Jenkins environment. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of the VMware Lab Manager Slaves Plugin that implements proper credential encryption and secure storage mechanisms. The recommended approach involves implementing encrypted credential storage using Jenkins' built-in credential management system, which utilizes encrypted storage mechanisms and proper access controls. Additionally, administrators should implement strict file system access controls and privilege separation, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the Jenkins controller's configuration files. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework principles for credential access and persistence, particularly the techniques related to credential dumping and privilege escalation through configuration weaknesses. Regular security audits and configuration reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire Jenkins plugin ecosystem.