CVE-2023-37945 in SAML Single Sign On Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
A missing permission check in Jenkins SAML Single Sign On(SSO) Plugin 2.1.0 through 2.3.0 (both inclusive) allows attackers with Overall/Read permission to download a string representation of the current security realm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37945 affects the Jenkins SAML Single Sign On plugin version 2.1.0 through 2.3.0, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of Jenkins installations relying on SAML authentication. This issue stems from a missing permission check within the plugin's implementation, creating an unauthorized access vector that allows attackers to extract sensitive configuration information. The vulnerability specifically targets systems where the SAML plugin is configured to handle authentication, potentially exposing the underlying security realm configuration to unauthorized users within the Jenkins environment.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient access control mechanism that fails to validate user permissions before exposing sensitive information through the plugin's API endpoints. Attackers with merely Overall/Read permission can exploit this weakness to retrieve a string representation of the current security realm configuration, which may contain critical details about the authentication system's implementation. This includes information about the SAML identity provider configuration, authentication endpoints, and other security-related parameters that could be leveraged for further exploitation. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of administrative functions that should require elevated privileges but instead remain accessible to users with read-only permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed security realm configuration can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who gains access to this information could potentially craft targeted attacks against the SAML implementation, exploit misconfigurations in the authentication flow, or use the gathered intelligence to escalate privileges within the Jenkins environment. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on SAML-based authentication for their Jenkins installations, as it undermines the trust model that SAML is designed to provide. This weakness can lead to unauthorized access to Jenkins resources, compromise of build processes, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure where Jenkins is deployed.
Organizations should immediately update their Jenkins SAML plugin to version 2.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary permission checks to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of their Jenkins configurations to identify any unauthorized access to SAML-related settings and implement additional monitoring for suspicious API activity. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an attack perspective, this issue maps to the privilege escalation and reconnaissance phases of the ATT&CK framework, as it enables attackers to gather intelligence about the target environment and potentially elevate their access level within the Jenkins instance. Organizations should also consider implementing additional network-level controls and access restrictions to limit exposure of Jenkins APIs to untrusted networks while maintaining legitimate administrative access.