CVE-2022-23117 in Conjur Secrets Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2022
Jenkins Conjur Secrets Plugin 1.0.9 and earlier implements functionality that allows attackers able to control agent processes to retrieve all username/password credentials stored on the Jenkins controller.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23117 affects the Conjur Secrets Plugin for Jenkins, specifically versions 1.0.9 and earlier. This issue represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of Jenkins environments relying on this plugin for credential management. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization controls within the plugin's implementation, creating a pathway for attackers who can compromise agent processes to gain unauthorized access to sensitive credential information stored on the Jenkins controller.
The technical flaw manifests through the plugin's improper handling of credential retrieval operations when executed within compromised agent contexts. When an attacker successfully compromises a Jenkins agent process, they can leverage this vulnerability to extract all username/password credentials that are managed by the Conjur Secrets Plugin. This occurs because the plugin fails to properly validate the execution context and authorization level of requests made to access stored secrets, allowing arbitrary credential retrieval from the controller's credential store.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Organizations using affected Jenkins versions face significant risk of credential compromise, potentially leading to widespread system infiltration and data breaches. Attackers can escalate their access from a compromised agent to the entire Jenkins controller, gaining access to all credentials stored within the system. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Jenkins agents are deployed in less secure or potentially compromised network segments, as these represent the primary attack vectors for exploitation.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1555.003 for credentials from password storage modules. The flaw represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows lateral movement within Jenkins environments, potentially enabling attackers to access additional systems and resources that rely on the compromised credentials. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including plugin version updates, network segmentation, and enhanced monitoring of agent processes to detect potential compromise attempts.
The recommended remediation strategy involves upgrading to a patched version of the Conjur Secrets Plugin that addresses the credential access control issue. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation policies that limit agent communication to trusted networks, enforce strict access controls for Jenkins agents, and deploy comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect anomalous credential access patterns. Security teams should also conduct thorough credential audits to identify and rotate any credentials that may have been compromised through this vulnerability.