CVE-2022-46684 in Checkmarx Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
Jenkins Checkmarx Plugin 2022.3.3 and earlier does not escape values returned from the Checkmarx service API before inserting them into HTML reports, resulting in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2023
The Jenkins Checkmarx Plugin vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks through improper input sanitization. This vulnerability affects versions 2022.3.3 and earlier of the Checkmarx plugin for Jenkins, a widely used continuous integration and deployment platform. The flaw stems from the plugin's failure to properly escape or sanitize data received from the Checkmarx service API before rendering it in HTML reports, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be persistently stored and subsequently executed in users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the output rendering layer where the plugin directly incorporates API response data into HTML content without appropriate sanitization measures. When the Checkmarx service returns security scan results containing potentially malicious content, the Jenkins plugin processes this data and embeds it directly into HTML report templates without escaping special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever users view the affected reports, making it a stored XSS vulnerability rather than a reflected one.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using Jenkins for continuous integration pipelines that integrate with Checkmarx security scanning tools. Attackers who can influence the Checkmarx scan results or gain access to the plugin configuration could inject malicious scripts that could steal user session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, the malicious code persists in the reports and affects all users who view them, potentially compromising multiple users within the organization.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for social engineering through malicious content. Organizations using Jenkins with Checkmarx integration face potential data exfiltration, credential theft, and privilege escalation risks. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Jenkins servers are often accessible to multiple users with varying permission levels, as the vulnerability could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive build environments and source code repositories. The impact extends beyond immediate script execution to potential lateral movement within network environments where Jenkins servers may have access to critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate upgrade to the patched version of the Checkmarx plugin, implementation of proper input validation and output encoding for all API responses, and regular security scanning of Jenkins environments. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policies to limit script execution in Jenkins reports, and establish monitoring for suspicious activities in build and security scan results. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit exposure of Jenkins servers to untrusted networks, while regular security awareness training should be conducted to help users identify potential social engineering attempts that might exploit this vulnerability.