CVE-2022-28158 in Pipeline Phoenix AutoTest Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2022
A missing permission check in Jenkins Pipeline: Phoenix AutoTest Plugin 1.3 and earlier allows attackers with Overall/Read permission to enumerate credentials IDs of credentials stored in Jenkins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28158 resides within the Jenkins Pipeline: Phoenix AutoTest Plugin version 1.3 and earlier, representing a critical permission bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of Jenkins environments. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions before exposing sensitive credential information. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where the Phoenix AutoTest plugin is installed and configured, creating a vector through which unauthorized users can exploit their limited access privileges to gain insights into the credential store.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing permission check that allows attackers with only Overall/Read permission to enumerate credential IDs stored within Jenkins. This represents a significant deviation from proper privilege separation principles where read access should not automatically grant the ability to discover other credential identifiers. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level, specifically within the plugin's credential enumeration functions that do not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to access the requested credential information. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues where insufficient checks allow unauthorized access to resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who gains Overall/Read permission through other means can use this vulnerability to map out the entire credential landscape within Jenkins, potentially identifying high-value credentials such as those used for database access, cloud provider accounts, or other critical system components. This enumeration capability significantly reduces the attack surface complexity for adversaries who might otherwise need to perform more time-consuming brute force or reconnaissance activities to discover valid credential identifiers. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can enable privilege escalation scenarios when combined with other weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28158 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the missing permission check. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control reviews to ensure that users with Overall/Read permission cannot enumerate credential information, potentially through role-based access control modifications or custom security policies. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous credential enumeration activities, as this type of attack pattern can be identified through behavioral analysis. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits of Jenkins plugins, particularly those handling sensitive data, and adherence to the principle of defense in depth where multiple layers of security controls work together to protect against various attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing credential rotation procedures and monitoring for unauthorized credential access attempts as part of their overall security posture improvement efforts.