CVE-2023-37964 in ElasticBox CI Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
A cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Jenkins ElasticBox CI Plugin 5.0.1 and earlier allows attackers 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
This cross-site request forgery vulnerability exists within the Jenkins ElasticBox CI Plugin version 5.0.1 and earlier, representing a critical security weakness that enables unauthorized attackers to manipulate authenticated requests. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the plugin's web interface. Attackers can craft malicious requests that leverage existing authentication sessions to perform unauthorized actions against the Jenkins server, specifically targeting the credential management functionality. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to establish connections to arbitrary URLs using credentials IDs that they have previously obtained through alternative means, effectively enabling credential harvesting and exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this CSRF flaw violates fundamental web security principles and aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as a critical threat vector. The ElasticBox plugin fails to properly validate that incoming requests originate from legitimate sources within the Jenkins environment, instead relying on session-based authentication alone. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the Jenkins server and its authenticated users, allowing them to execute commands or retrieve sensitive information without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's credential handling mechanisms, where attackers can manipulate the system to connect to attacker-controlled endpoints using stolen credential identifiers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to Jenkins systems and potentially downstream resources. Once an attacker successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability, they can access all credentials stored within Jenkins that are associated with the ElasticBox plugin, potentially compromising multiple systems and services that rely on these stored credentials. The attack vector typically involves tricking authenticated users into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links that automatically submit requests to the Jenkins server. This creates a significant risk for organizations that depend on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment workflows, as compromised credentials could lead to unauthorized code deployments, system modifications, or complete system compromise.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Jenkins ElasticBox CI Plugin version 5.1.0 or later, which includes proper CSRF protection mechanisms and token validation. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation, restricting access to Jenkins through firewalls, and employing multi-factor authentication for administrative access. Security teams must also conduct comprehensive audits of all installed Jenkins plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that proper input validation and origin checking mechanisms are in place. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1566.002 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, and T1528 for credentials theft through exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious requests that attempt to manipulate Jenkins credential storage mechanisms.