CVE-2023-30516 in Image Tag Parameter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2023
Jenkins Image Tag Parameter Plugin 2.0 improperly introduces an option to opt out of SSL/TLS certificate validation when connecting to Docker registries, resulting in job configurations using Image Tag Parameters that were created before 2.0 having SSL/TLS certificate validation disabled by default.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-30516 affects the Jenkins Image Tag Parameter Plugin version 2.0 and introduces a critical security regression that fundamentally undermines the integrity of container registry communications. This issue represents a significant deviation from secure communication practices and creates a persistent attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors. The plugin's design change inadvertently disables SSL/TLS certificate validation when connecting to Docker registries, which directly violates fundamental security principles established in industry standards such as the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST SP 800-57 recommendations for cryptographic key management and secure communications. The vulnerability stems from a default configuration change that affects legacy job configurations, meaning that systems previously configured with older plugin versions automatically inherit insecure settings without explicit user intervention.
The technical flaw manifests through a deliberate code change that introduces a parameter allowing users to opt out of SSL/TLS certificate validation, but this option is enabled by default for existing job configurations. This design decision creates a dangerous precedent where security measures are weakened without explicit user consent, effectively creating a backdoor for man-in-the-middle attacks against container registry communications. The implementation violates CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation and CWE-310 which covers cryptographic weaknesses in the use of SSL/TLS protocols. When Jenkins jobs utilize the Image Tag Parameter plugin, they establish connections to Docker registries such as Docker Hub, Amazon ECR, or private registries, and the disabled certificate validation means that attackers can potentially intercept and manipulate container image metadata, tags, and pull operations without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple communication security concerns and creates substantial risk for organizations relying on Jenkins for container-based CI/CD pipelines. Attackers who can position themselves between Jenkins and container registries can exploit this weakness to perform supply chain attacks by injecting malicious images into the build process, modifying image tags, or redirecting traffic to compromised registries. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1583.001 which involves creating or modifying infrastructure for malicious purposes, and T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol: DNS. The risk is particularly severe for organizations that depend on automated container image pulls and tag resolution, as the vulnerability affects job configurations that may have been in production for months or years, meaning that the insecure behavior could be active without administrators being aware of the change.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with the immediate upgrade to patched versions of the Jenkins Image Tag Parameter Plugin while ensuring that all existing job configurations are reviewed for potential SSL/TLS validation settings. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all Jenkins instances to identify affected job configurations and manually re-enable SSL/TLS certificate validation where necessary. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous registry access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include a comprehensive review of the Jenkins security configuration, ensuring that all automated processes maintain secure communication channels with container registries. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms and regular security assessments to prevent similar regressions in other plugins or system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining secure defaults in security-sensitive software and the necessity of thorough regression testing when implementing security-related changes to prevent unintended weakening of security controls.