CVE-2023-28679 in Mashup Portlets Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2023
Jenkins Mashup Portlets Plugin 1.1.2 and earlier provides the "Generic JS Portlet" feature that lets a user populate a portlet using a custom JavaScript expression, resulting in a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exploitable by authenticated attackers with Overall/Read permission.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2023
The Jenkins Mashup Portlets Plugin contains a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects versions 1.1.2 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from the plugin's "Generic JS Portlet" feature which allows authenticated users to execute custom JavaScript expressions within portlets. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the system and execute whenever the affected portlet is rendered, creating a stored XSS attack vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied JavaScript expressions before storing them in the application's database. When an authenticated user with Overall/Read permission creates a portlet using the Generic JS Portlet feature, they can input malicious JavaScript code that gets stored without adequate validation or sanitization. This stored code executes in the context of other users who view the portlet, making it a persistent threat that can affect multiple victims over time.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for Jenkins environments that utilize the Mashup Portlets plugin. Attackers with minimal privileges can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser context of other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the Jenkins environment, as it allows unauthorized access to user sessions and potentially sensitive build information. Additionally, the stored nature of the XSS means that the attack can persist even after the initial exploitation, making it particularly dangerous for long-running Jenkins installations.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of the Jenkins Mashup Portlets Plugin to remediate this vulnerability. Administrators should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied content within Jenkins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and follows ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content. Security teams should monitor for suspicious portlet creation activities and implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls to detect and block malicious JavaScript payloads. Regular security audits of Jenkins plugins and their configurations should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the broader Jenkins ecosystem.