CVE-2022-23115 in Batch Task Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2022
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in Jenkins batch task Plugin 1.19 and earlier allows attackers with Overall/Read access to retrieve logs, build or delete a batch task.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23115 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness within the Jenkins batch task plugin version 1.19 and earlier. This flaw exists in the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern how the plugin handles user requests, creating a pathway for unauthorized actions to be executed on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where users possess Overall/Read access permissions, which is a fundamental access level in Jenkins that allows users to view basic system information and build artifacts. The batch task plugin, designed to execute multiple build tasks sequentially, introduces a complex interaction between user interface elements and backend processing that becomes exploitable when proper CSRF protection mechanisms are absent or insufficiently implemented.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP requests that target the batch task plugin endpoints. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or emails that, when visited by an authenticated user with Overall/Read access, automatically submit requests to the Jenkins server to perform actions such as retrieving logs, initiating builds, or deleting batch tasks. This type of attack leverages the trust relationship between the web browser and the Jenkins server, where the browser automatically includes authentication cookies and session information with each request. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens in the plugin's user interface forms and API endpoints, which should validate that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session context. This flaw directly corresponds to CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as a serious security weakness that allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential system disruption and unauthorized modifications to build processes. An attacker with Overall/Read access can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive build logs, potentially exposing confidential information about source code, build environments, or deployment processes. The ability to delete batch tasks can cause significant operational disruption to continuous integration workflows, potentially breaking automated build pipelines and requiring manual intervention to restore functionality. Furthermore, the capability to trigger builds can be abused for resource exhaustion attacks, where attackers flood the system with unauthorized build requests that consume CPU, memory, and disk resources. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the build environment by triggering specific batch tasks that may execute malicious code or access restricted resources, representing a potential escalation path within the Jenkins environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-23115 should prioritize immediate patching of the Jenkins batch task plugin to version 1.20 or later, where proper CSRF protection mechanisms have been implemented. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including the enforcement of strict access controls that limit Overall/Read permissions to only trusted users, the deployment of web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, and the implementation of monitoring solutions that track unauthorized access attempts to batch task endpoints. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of Jenkins plugins to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited. The implementation of proper CSRF token validation across all user-facing interfaces and API endpoints aligns with industry best practices and represents a fundamental security control that should be integrated into all web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users have only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their required tasks, thereby reducing the potential impact of successful CSRF attacks. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and demonstrates how seemingly minor plugin vulnerabilities can create significant security risks within larger enterprise environments, particularly when combined with other access control weaknesses that may exist within the Jenkins configuration.