CVE-2022-30951 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 does not implement access control, potentially allowing users to start processes even if they're not allowed to log in.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-30951 affects the Jenkins WMI Windows Agents Plugin version 1.8 and earlier, presenting a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of Windows-based Jenkins environments. This issue stems from the plugin's implementation of the Windows Remote Command library, which fails to properly enforce authentication and authorization mechanisms. The flaw allows unauthorized users to execute processes on Windows agents regardless of their login permissions, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries that should prevent arbitrary command execution.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper access control validation within the Windows Remote Command library implementation. When users interact with Jenkins agents through this plugin, the system should verify that the requesting user possesses appropriate privileges to execute commands on the target Windows machine. However, due to the missing access control checks, any authenticated user can potentially trigger remote command execution, regardless of their specific permissions or login status. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege that is essential for secure system administration.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment workflows on Windows infrastructure. Attackers who can authenticate to the Jenkins system, even with limited privileges, can escalate their capabilities to execute arbitrary commands on Windows agents, potentially leading to full system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple command execution as it enables lateral movement within the network, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Jenkins serves as a central automation hub and where Windows agents are used for build and deployment operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves command and scripting interpreter. Organizations utilizing this plugin face heightened risk of exploitation through credential compromise or privilege escalation attacks. The flaw essentially removes the security boundary that should exist between different user roles within the Jenkins environment, allowing unauthorized command execution on Windows systems. Security teams should consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for more extensive attacks, particularly in environments where Jenkins agents have elevated privileges or access to sensitive systems.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin version updates to 1.9 or later, which contain the necessary access control fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting Jenkins access through network segmentation, implementing multi-factor authentication, and regularly auditing user permissions. The principle of least privilege should be enforced across all Jenkins configurations, ensuring that users have only the minimum permissions required for their specific roles. Regular security assessments of Jenkins plugins and their configurations should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses that could compromise system integrity and availability.