CVE-2023-28630 in GoCD
Summary
by MITRE • 03/28/2023
GoCD is an open source continuous delivery server. In GoCD versions from 20.5.0 and below 23.1.0, if the server environment is not correctly configured by administrators to provide access to the relevant PostgreSQL or MySQL backup tools, the credentials for database access may be unintentionally leaked to admin alerts on the GoCD user interface. The vulnerability is triggered only if the GoCD server host is misconfigured to have backups enabled, but does not have access to the `pg_dump` or `mysqldump` utility tools to backup the configured database type (PostgreSQL or MySQL respectively). In such cases, failure to launch the expected backup utility reports the shell environment used to attempt to launch in the server admin alert, which includes the plaintext database password supplied to the configured tool. This vulnerability does not affect backups of the default on-disk H2 database that GoCD is configured to use. This issue has been addressed and fixed in GoCD 23.1.0. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may disable backups, or administrators should ensure that the required `pg_dump` (PostgreSQL) or `mysqldump` (MySQL) binaries are available on the GoCD server when backups are triggered.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28630 affects GoCD continuous delivery server versions 20.5.0 through 23.0.0, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that arises from improper server configuration management. This vulnerability specifically targets environments where administrators have enabled database backup functionality without ensuring the necessary backup utility tools are accessible to the GoCD server process. The flaw demonstrates a dangerous misconfiguration pattern where the system attempts to execute backup operations using either pg_dump for PostgreSQL or mysqldump for MySQL, but fails due to missing executables. When these failures occur, the system inadvertently exposes plaintext database credentials through administrative alerts, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on GoCD for continuous integration and deployment processes.
The technical mechanism underlying this vulnerability involves the GoCD server's backup execution logic that attempts to spawn database backup processes through shell commands. When the required backup utilities are absent from the system PATH or lack proper execution permissions, the system generates error messages containing the full command line that was attempted to execute. These command lines include the database connection parameters, including the plaintext password, which gets exposed in the error output displayed in the GoCD administrative interface. This behavior directly violates security principles by exposing sensitive authentication information in system logs and user interface alerts, making it particularly dangerous for environments where administrative access is not strictly controlled. The vulnerability specifically affects PostgreSQL and MySQL database configurations, while leaving the default H2 database implementation unaffected since it operates differently and does not require external backup utilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it provides attackers with immediate access to database credentials that can be used for lateral movement within the organization's infrastructure. The flaw requires specific misconfiguration conditions to be exploitable, namely having backups enabled without proper tool availability, but once triggered, it can compromise database access and potentially lead to data breaches or unauthorized modifications to the continuous delivery pipeline. Organizations using GoCD in production environments face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited by both internal users with administrative access and external attackers who gain access to the GoCD administrative interface. The exposure of plaintext passwords through system alerts creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited multiple times until the underlying misconfiguration is corrected, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for security-conscious organizations.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability align with established best practices for information disclosure prevention and system hardening. The primary remediation involves upgrading to GoCD version 23.1.0 or later, where the issue has been properly addressed through improved error handling that prevents credential exposure in backup failure scenarios. Organizations unable to perform immediate upgrades should implement two key operational controls: disabling backup functionality entirely when the required tools are not available, or ensuring that the appropriate backup utilities are properly installed and accessible to the GoCD server process. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and proper system configuration management, where administrative tasks should only be enabled when all necessary prerequisites are met. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security testing and validation of backup configurations, as highlighted by CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through misconfigured system components. Organizations should also implement monitoring for administrative alerts and error messages to detect potential exposure of sensitive information, while maintaining proper access controls to prevent unauthorized modification of backup configurations.