CVE-2022-45386 in Violations Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2022
Jenkins Violations Plugin 0.7.11 and earlier does not configure its XML parser to prevent XML external entity (XXE) attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2022
The Jenkins Violations Plugin vulnerability CVE-2022-45386 represents a critical security flaw in versions 0.7.11 and earlier that fails to properly configure its XML parser to prevent XML external entity attacks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 weakness category, which specifically addresses improper restriction of XML external entities, making it a direct descendant of the well-known XXE attack vector that has plagued numerous applications over the years. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of XML data processing, where the XML parser configuration does not disable external entity resolution, allowing malicious actors to exploit this weakness through crafted XML input.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the Violations Plugin processes XML data from various sources such as code quality reports, static analysis results, or other XML-formatted inputs. When the plugin receives such input, it uses an XML parser that has not been explicitly configured to disable external entity resolution, thereby enabling attackers to craft malicious XML documents containing external entity references that can be resolved during parsing. This configuration oversight allows for potential information disclosure, denial of service attacks, and in some scenarios, remote code execution depending on the environment and system configuration. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the parser level, meaning any XML input processed by the plugin could potentially be exploited without requiring any specific user interaction or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data processing failures and can significantly compromise the security posture of Jenkins environments. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive information from the server, perform server-side request forgery attacks, or potentially gain unauthorized access to internal systems. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate functionality of the Violations Plugin but also poses risks to the broader Jenkins infrastructure, as the plugin's XML processing capabilities are often used to integrate with various code quality tools and reporting systems. Organizations using Jenkins with this vulnerable plugin may experience unauthorized data access, system resource exhaustion, or even complete system compromise depending on the attack vector employed. This weakness is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Jenkins servers often have elevated privileges and access to sensitive code repositories and build systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-45386 must focus on immediate remediation through plugin version updates to 0.7.12 or later, where the XML parser configuration has been properly addressed to disable external entity resolution. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures such as network segmentation, firewall rules restricting access to Jenkins servers, and comprehensive monitoring of XML processing activities within the Jenkins environment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1213.002 technique for Data from Information Repositories, as attackers can extract sensitive data through the XXE mechanism. Regular security assessments and dependency checks should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and components, while also ensuring that all XML processing within the Jenkins ecosystem properly configures parsers to disable external entity resolution. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation mechanisms to provide defense-in-depth against similar XXE vulnerabilities across their entire infrastructure.