CVE-2022-34786 in Rich Text Publisher Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/30/2022
Jenkins Rich Text Publisher Plugin 1.4 and earlier does not escape the HTML message set by its post-build step, resulting in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exploitable by attackers able to configure jobs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2022
The Jenkins Rich Text Publisher Plugin vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of continuous integration and delivery environments. This vulnerability affects versions 1.4 and earlier of the plugin, which is commonly used within Jenkins to publish rich text content as part of post-build processes. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's message handling functionality, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by unauthorized users with sufficient privileges to configure jobs within the Jenkins environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to properly escape HTML content when rendering messages in post-build steps. When administrators or users configure job settings to include rich text messages, the plugin stores this content without adequate sanitization of potentially malicious script tags or other HTML elements. This stored content is then rendered in web interfaces without proper HTML escaping, creating conditions where attacker-controlled content can be executed within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS flaw because the malicious content is persisted in the system and executed when users view the affected pages, rather than requiring direct interaction with a malicious URL.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive CI/CD infrastructure. An attacker with job configuration privileges can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser context of other users who view the rich text content, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Jenkins serves as a central hub for automated builds and deployments, as it could allow attackers to compromise the entire software supply chain by manipulating build outputs or accessing sensitive configuration data.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader application security frameworks, particularly those addressing CWE-79 which governs cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the technique of "Web Application Attack" and could be leveraged in subsequent attack phases including credential theft, lateral movement, and privilege escalation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to plugin versions 1.5 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper HTML escaping and input sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, security teams should review job configuration permissions to limit the scope of users who can modify build steps and implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious content patterns. Regular security assessments of CI/CD environments should include automated scanning for similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and components to prevent similar issues from persisting across the software development lifecycle.