CVE-2022-46683 in Google Login Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
Jenkins Google Login Plugin 1.4 through 1.6 (both inclusive) improperly determines that a redirect URL after login is legitimately pointing to Jenkins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-46683 affects the Jenkins Google Login Plugin version 1.4 through 1.6, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that stems from improper validation of redirect URLs following authentication. This issue creates a significant security risk by allowing malicious actors to manipulate the authentication flow and redirect users to arbitrary destinations after successful Google authentication. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of OAuth redirect parameters, where the system fails to properly verify the legitimacy of the target URL before redirecting users post-login. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of the authentication process and could potentially enable attackers to execute unauthorized actions within the Jenkins environment. The affected versions represent a specific range where the plugin's redirect validation logic was insufficiently implemented, creating a window of opportunity for exploitation. Organizations using Jenkins with Google Login Plugin in these versions face heightened risk of unauthorized access and potential privilege escalation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation of redirect URIs within the OAuth authentication flow. When users authenticate through Google, the plugin should verify that the redirect URL is whitelisted or otherwise validated before proceeding with the redirect. However, in the affected versions, the plugin fails to perform adequate validation checks on the redirect parameter, allowing attackers to manipulate the destination URL. This flaw aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses URL redirect vulnerabilities where applications fail to validate redirect targets. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate security controls during the authentication process. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious redirect URLs that would normally be blocked by proper validation, but are accepted due to the weak validation logic in the plugin. The authentication flow becomes compromised because the system assumes all redirect URLs are legitimate without proper verification mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-46683 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential privilege escalation and lateral movement within the Jenkins environment. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to redirect authenticated users to malicious sites, potentially enabling phishing attacks or credential theft. The attack surface is particularly concerning for organizations that rely on Jenkins for CI/CD operations, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code deployments or access to sensitive build artifacts. Security teams may face challenges in detecting this attack vector since it appears to be legitimate authentication traffic. The vulnerability also impacts the trust model of the Jenkins authentication system, as users may be unknowingly redirected to malicious destinations while believing they are accessing legitimate Jenkins resources. Organizations using Google authentication for Jenkins may experience unauthorized access to build servers, configuration management, and other sensitive Jenkins functionalities. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where Jenkins serves as a central point for automated deployment processes.
Organizations should immediately update their Jenkins Google Login Plugin to version 1.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. The remediation process involves upgrading the plugin through Jenkins' built-in update mechanism or manual installation of the patched version. Security administrators should also review their Jenkins configuration to ensure proper redirect URL validation is in place and consider implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns. The fix implemented in version 1.7 addresses the core validation issue by properly verifying redirect URLs against a whitelist or implementing more robust validation logic. Organizations should conduct a comprehensive audit of their Jenkins installations to identify all systems running affected plugin versions and ensure proper patching. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous redirect behavior during authentication flows can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and the need for thorough validation of authentication flows in enterprise environments. The remediation process should also include reviewing access controls and permissions within Jenkins to minimize potential impact from any successful exploitation attempts. Organizations may also want to consider implementing additional layers of authentication and authorization to provide defense in depth against similar vulnerabilities.