CVE-2022-34211 in vRealize Orchestrator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/23/2022
A cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Jenkins vRealize Orchestrator Plugin 3.0 and earlier allows attackers to send an HTTP POST request to an attacker-specified URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-34211 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the vRealize Orchestrator Plugin for Jenkins versions 3.0 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from the plugin's insufficient validation of incoming requests, specifically failing to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms. The flaw allows malicious actors to craft specially designed HTTP POST requests that can be executed against targeted Jenkins instances without the knowledge or consent of legitimate users. The vulnerability exists due to the absence of anti-CSRF tokens in the plugin's web interface, which should normally validate that requests originate from authorized sources within the same session context. This oversight creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of the Jenkins platform through manipulated requests that appear legitimate to the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker constructs a malicious payload that leverages the victim's authenticated session within the Jenkins environment. The attacker can specify any URL for the POST request target, enabling them to perform actions such as creating new users, modifying existing configurations, executing arbitrary commands, or manipulating workflow definitions within the vRealize Orchestrator plugin. The vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the web application layer, where it can bypass traditional network-level security controls and directly interact with the application's business logic. The plugin's failure to implement proper session validation mechanisms means that authenticated requests can be forged and executed by unauthorized parties, effectively undermining the security model of the Jenkins platform.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-34211 extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can enable complete compromise of the vRealize Orchestrator plugin functionality and potentially the underlying Jenkins instance. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, create persistent backdoors, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive orchestration workflows and automation processes. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on automated workflows and orchestration capabilities within their Jenkins environments, where the vRealize Orchestrator plugin is used for managing complex automation tasks. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that Jenkins instances are often accessible from multiple network zones, including internal networks where users may have elevated privileges. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering campaigns that trick users into visiting malicious websites, or through direct exploitation if the target system is exposed to untrusted networks. The potential for lateral movement within the organization increases significantly, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with access to automation workflows that may have elevated permissions and access to critical infrastructure components.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched version of the vRealize Orchestrator plugin, which addresses the CSRF vulnerability by implementing proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit access to Jenkins instances, particularly those with the vulnerable plugin installed. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious CSRF patterns, and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized changes to workflow configurations. The mitigation strategy should also include regular security assessments of Jenkins plugins to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Security teams must ensure that all users have appropriate training on recognizing phishing attempts that could lead to CSRF exploitation, while also implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative Jenkins accounts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of comprehensive plugin security reviews, as the absence of CSRF protection in a widely used plugin can create significant risks for enterprise automation environments. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain an inventory of all installed plugins to quickly identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure.