CVE-2023-37953 in mabl Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
A missing permission check in Jenkins mabl Plugin 0.0.46 and earlier allows attackers with Overall/Read permission to connect to an attacker-specified URL using attacker-specified credentials IDs obtained through another method, capturing credentials stored in Jenkins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37953 represents a critical authorization flaw within the mabl Plugin for Jenkins, specifically affecting versions 0.0.46 and earlier. This issue stems from a missing permission check that fundamentally undermines the security model of the Jenkins platform. The flaw allows attackers who possess only the Overall/Read permission to exploit a mechanism that should otherwise be restricted to authorized users with higher privileges. The vulnerability operates by enabling unauthorized access to credential storage systems through a carefully crafted connection attempt to attacker-specified URLs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a design oversight where the plugin fails to validate whether the requesting user has appropriate authorization levels before allowing credential retrieval operations. When an attacker with minimal privileges attempts to establish connections through the mabl plugin interface, the system does not properly verify that the user possesses the necessary permissions to access the specified credentials. This missing validation creates a pathway for credential harvesting where attackers can leverage their existing read access to extract sensitive authentication information stored within Jenkins. The flaw essentially transforms a limited read permission into a mechanism for credential exfiltration through the exploitation of improperly validated connection parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment workflows. Attackers can potentially access a wide range of stored credentials including those for source code repositories, deployment targets, cloud services, and other critical infrastructure components. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design, as it allows attackers to escalate their capabilities from read-only access to credential access. The compromised credentials can then be used for further lateral movement within the network, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data and services.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched version of the mabl plugin, which resolves the missing permission check issue. Security administrators should also review and enforce proper access controls, ensuring that users with Overall/Read permission cannot access credential management functions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1555.003 related to credentials from password storage modules. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to Jenkins instances, enabling detailed logging of credential access attempts, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar permission boundary violations. Organizations should also consider implementing just-in-time credential access mechanisms and privilege management systems to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities in the future.