CVE-2022-30950 in WMI Windows Agents Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2022
Jenkins WMI Windows Agents Plugin 1.8 and earlier includes the Windows Remote Command library which has a buffer overflow vulnerability that may allow users able to connect to a named pipe to execute commands on the Windows agent machine.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-30950 affects the Jenkins WMI Windows Agents Plugin version 1.8 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exposes Windows agent machines to remote command execution. This vulnerability stems from the inclusion of the Windows Remote Command library within the plugin, which contains a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by authenticated users who have connectivity to a named pipe on the target system. The issue manifests when the plugin processes input data through the Windows Remote Command library, creating an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious input that exceeds buffer boundaries and potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires only connectivity to a named pipe, which is often accessible to users with minimal privileges within the Windows environment. When exploited, the buffer overflow can lead to arbitrary code execution on the Windows agent machine, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, install malware, or establish persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Jenkins agents often run with elevated privileges, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous for organizations relying on automated build and deployment processes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for continuous integration and deployment environments where Jenkins agents are deployed across Windows infrastructure. The attack vector requires minimal privileges to initiate the exploit, as users only need access to a named pipe that is typically exposed for legitimate administrative purposes. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers who may have gained access to a low-privilege account within the organization or who can establish network connectivity to the Jenkins agent. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could compromise entire build servers, access source code repositories, or use the compromised agent as a pivot point to target other systems within the network infrastructure. Organizations running Jenkins with Windows agents are particularly vulnerable since the plugin is commonly used in enterprise environments for automated testing and deployment workflows.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrade to Jenkins WMI Windows Agents Plugin version 1.9 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to restrict access to named pipes and Jenkins agent communication channels, ensuring that only trusted systems can establish connections. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of Jenkins agent configurations to identify and disable unnecessary named pipe access. According to ATT&CK framework tactic TA0002 (Execution) and technique T1059.003 (Windows Command Shell), this vulnerability enables adversaries to execute commands on compromised systems, while the lateral movement aspects align with ATT&CK technique T1021.002 (SMB/Windows Admin Shares) when attackers use the compromised agent to move laterally within the network. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous named pipe usage patterns and unauthorized command execution attempts to provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts.