CVE-2022-30945 in Groovy Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2022
Jenkins Pipeline: Groovy Plugin 2689.v434009a_31b_f1 and earlier allows loading any Groovy source files on the classpath of Jenkins and Jenkins plugins in sandboxed pipelines.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-30945 affects the Jenkins Pipeline: Groovy Plugin version 2689.v434009a_31b_f1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the sandboxed execution environment designed to protect Jenkins pipelines from unauthorized code execution. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of Groovy source file loading mechanisms, specifically allowing malicious actors to bypass sandbox restrictions and access arbitrary Groovy files present in the Jenkins classpath or plugin dependencies. The flaw essentially enables an attacker to load and execute Groovy code that should normally be restricted, fundamentally compromising the security isolation that sandboxed pipelines are meant to provide.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and access controls within the Groovy plugin's classpath traversal mechanisms. When Jenkins processes pipeline scripts, it typically operates within a restricted sandbox environment to prevent unauthorized access to system resources and sensitive functionality. However, this vulnerability allows attackers to leverage the plugin's ability to load Groovy source files from the classpath, potentially accessing files that contain sensitive logic, authentication mechanisms, or other privileged code components. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the classpath level, meaning that any Groovy files accessible to the Jenkins process can be loaded and executed, regardless of their intended security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-30945 is severe and far-reaching for Jenkins environments, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges that can lead to complete system compromise. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive data, execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Jenkins user, escalate privileges to gain access to underlying system resources, or even establish persistent backdoors within the CI/CD pipeline infrastructure. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the security model of Jenkins pipeline sandboxes, which are fundamental to protecting against malicious pipeline scripts and unauthorized access to production environments. The impact extends beyond individual pipeline executions to potentially compromise entire continuous integration and deployment workflows.
Organizations should immediately update their Jenkins installations to versions that address this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for the core flaw. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest patches to the Jenkins Pipeline: Groovy Plugin, ensuring that all Jenkins instances are updated to versions that properly restrict Groovy source file loading from the classpath. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Jenkins instances to untrusted users or networks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through groovy scripts, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls. Regular security audits of Jenkins plugin configurations and classpath management should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the CI/CD infrastructure.