CVE-2022-38664 in Job Configuration History Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/23/2022
Jenkins Job Configuration History Plugin 1165.v8cc9fd1f4597 and earlier does not escape the job name on the System Configuration History page, resulting in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exploitable by attackers able to configure job names.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-38664 affects the Jenkins Job Configuration History Plugin version 1165.v8cc9fd1f4597 and earlier, presenting a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security integrity of Jenkins environments. This vulnerability specifically manifests on the System Configuration History page where job names are displayed without proper HTML escaping mechanisms. The flaw allows attackers with sufficient privileges to configure job names to inject malicious scripts that persist in the system's configuration history, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect all users who access the affected page.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding practices within the plugin's rendering logic. When job names containing malicious script code are stored in the Jenkins configuration history, the system fails to properly escape special HTML characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags before displaying them on the web interface. This omission creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, effectively enabling a stored XSS attack vector. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only the ability to configure job names, which is often granted to developers or administrators within typical Jenkins deployments, making it exploitable by insiders or attackers who have gained sufficient access rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration. When exploited, the stored XSS can allow attackers to steal user sessions, modify job configurations, access sensitive system information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The persistence of the vulnerability in the configuration history means that the malicious scripts remain active until manually removed from the system, potentially affecting multiple users over extended periods. This threat is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Jenkins serves as a central automation platform managing critical CI/CD pipelines and sensitive deployment processes.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to the patched version of the Jenkins Job Configuration History Plugin, applying the latest security updates from the Jenkins project, and implementing additional input validation measures. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script payloads, establishing stricter access controls for job configuration permissions, and conducting regular security audits of Jenkins plugin configurations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access through exploitation of web application vulnerabilities and privilege escalation through persistent malicious code execution. The recommended remediation includes not only patching the specific vulnerability but also implementing comprehensive security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establishing secure development practices that emphasize proper input validation and output encoding across all Jenkins components and plugins.