CVE-2022-28141 in Proxmox Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2022
Jenkins Proxmox Plugin 0.5.0 and earlier stores the Proxmox Datacenter 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 • 04/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28141 affects the Jenkins Proxmox Plugin version 0.5.0 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in how sensitive authentication data is stored within the Jenkins infrastructure. This issue stems from the plugin's improper handling of credentials, specifically the Proxmox Datacenter password, which is written to the global config.xml file in an unencrypted format. The configuration file resides on the Jenkins controller's file system, making it accessible to any user who possesses file system access permissions to the controller. This fundamental design flaw creates a significant attack surface where unauthorized individuals with sufficient privileges can directly read and extract sensitive credentials from the configuration file.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper storage of credentials. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insecure credential storage where authentication data that should remain protected is stored in plain text format within a configuration file. This misconfiguration allows for direct retrieval of the password without requiring additional exploitation techniques or complex attack vectors. The vulnerability exists at the configuration management level where the plugin fails to implement proper encryption or obfuscation mechanisms for sensitive data, instead relying on the default file system permissions for security protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, creating potential for significant system compromise within environments where Jenkins controllers are not properly secured. An attacker who gains file system access to the Jenkins controller can immediately extract the Proxmox password and subsequently use it to authenticate against the Proxmox Datacenter infrastructure, potentially gaining unauthorized access to virtualization resources, including the ability to create, modify, or delete virtual machines and associated resources. This credential compromise can lead to broader security incidents including lateral movement within the infrastructure, data exfiltration, and potential disruption of virtualization services that rely on the Proxmox platform.
The vulnerability presents a clear path for attackers following the techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access tactics, specifically targeting the "Credentials in Files" technique where adversaries search for credentials stored in configuration files. Organizations using Jenkins with the affected Proxmox plugin are at risk of unauthorized access to their virtualization environments, as the stolen credentials can be used to perform administrative functions within the Proxmox infrastructure. The lack of encryption or obfuscation mechanisms means that even users with minimal privileges who can read the config.xml file can extract the password, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where file system access controls are not properly enforced. Security teams should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to a patched version of the plugin, reviewing file system permissions, and implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized file access attempts.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to a version of the Jenkins Proxmox Plugin that properly encrypts sensitive credentials, as the current vulnerable versions do not implement industry-standard practices for credential protection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper credential management within CI/CD environments where Jenkins serves as a central automation platform, as these systems often contain credentials for various infrastructure components including virtualization platforms, cloud services, and database systems. Additionally, security teams should implement monitoring solutions that detect unauthorized access attempts to configuration files and establish regular credential rotation procedures to minimize the impact of potential credential exposure incidents.