CVE-2022-29052 in Google Compute Engine Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/13/2022
Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin 4.3.8 and earlier stores private keys unencrypted in cloud agent config.xml files on the Jenkins controller where they can be viewed by users with Extended Read permission, or access to the Jenkins controller file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-29052 affects the Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin version 4.3.8 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through improper handling of sensitive authentication credentials. This flaw allows attackers with minimal privileges to access private keys that are stored in plain text within the Jenkins controller's configuration files. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper encryption mechanisms for storing private keys, creating an attack surface that directly compromises the security of cloud-based Jenkins agents that rely on Google Compute Engine authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's configuration storage mechanism where private keys are written to the cloud agent config.xml files without any form of encryption or obfuscation. When Jenkins processes Google Compute Engine agent configurations, it persists the private key material directly into the file system, making it accessible to any user who can read the configuration files. This design flaw violates fundamental security principles of credential management and creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the Jenkins controller remains compromised or accessible to unauthorized users with Extended Read permission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to Google Cloud resources that are managed through Jenkins. An attacker with Extended Read permission or file system access can extract these private keys and use them to authenticate to Google Compute Engine services, potentially leading to unauthorized resource provisioning, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation within the cloud environment. The vulnerability creates a direct path for lateral movement and cloud resource compromise, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Jenkins is used for continuous integration and deployment operations that interact with cloud infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a failure in proper credential handling practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that the vulnerability can be exploited through multiple vectors including local file system access or users with minimal administrative privileges, making it difficult to contain and remediate. Organizations using Jenkins with Google Compute Engine plugins should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to versions that address this vulnerability, implementing strict file system access controls, and establishing monitoring for unauthorized access to configuration files.
Recommended mitigations include immediate upgrade to the patched version of the Google Compute Engine Plugin, implementation of file system access controls to restrict access to Jenkins configuration files, and deployment of monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration data. The solution should also include regular security audits of Jenkins configurations and credential management practices to prevent similar issues from occurring in other plugins or system components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing centralized credential management solutions that can provide secure storage and retrieval of sensitive information without exposing it in plain text within application configuration files, aligning with NIST cybersecurity framework recommendations for secure credential handling and access control management.