CVE-2023-40337 in Folders Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/16/2023
A cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Jenkins Folders Plugin 6.846.v23698686f0f6 and earlier allows attackers to copy a view inside a folder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2023
The cross-site request forgery vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-40337 resides within the Jenkins Folders Plugin version 6.846.v23698686f0f6 and earlier releases. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the web application's authentication and authorization mechanisms, specifically affecting the plugin's handling of view operations within folder structures. The vulnerability stems from insufficient protection against unauthorized requests that could be forged by malicious actors, potentially compromising the integrity of Jenkins' folder-based view management system.
This CSRF vulnerability operates by exploiting the trust relationship between the Jenkins server and authenticated users. When a user navigates to a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the attacker can leverage the user's existing authenticated session to perform unauthorized actions. In this specific case, the vulnerability enables attackers to copy views within folder structures without proper authorization, effectively allowing arbitrary view duplication that could lead to unauthorized configuration changes or data exposure. The flaw occurs because the plugin fails to validate that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same origin domain, making it susceptible to cross-site request forgery attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple view duplication, as it could potentially enable attackers to manipulate folder structures and view configurations in ways that compromise system integrity. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to create unauthorized copies of sensitive views, potentially exposing confidential information or disrupting normal workflow operations. The attack vector becomes particularly concerning in environments where Jenkins serves as a central automation platform managing critical CI/CD processes, as unauthorized modifications to view configurations could affect build visibility, access controls, or even provide pathways for further exploitation. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and represents a significant risk to Jenkins environments that rely on folder-based organization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention through plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF protection gaps. Organizations should ensure that all instances of the Jenkins Folders Plugin are upgraded to versions that implement proper CSRF token validation and origin checking mechanisms. Additionally, implementing additional security measures such as configuring Jenkins with proper CORS policies, enabling CSRF protection at the web server level, and conducting regular security audits of plugin configurations can help reduce the attack surface. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the updated plugin maintains all necessary functionality while addressing the CSRF vulnerability, and organizations should monitor for any related security advisories that may emerge from the Jenkins community or security vendors.