CVE-2023-40347 in Maven Artifact ChoiceListProvider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/16/2023
Jenkins Maven Artifact ChoiceListProvider (Nexus) Plugin 1.14 and earlier does not set the appropriate context for credentials lookup, allowing attackers with Item/Configure permission to access and capture credentials they are not entitled to.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-40347 affects the Jenkins Maven Artifact ChoiceListProvider Nexus plugin version 1.14 and earlier, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the security model of Jenkins credential management. This issue stems from improper context handling during credential lookup operations, creating a scenario where unauthorized users can exploit their limited permissions to gain access to sensitive authentication information. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's inability to correctly validate the security context when retrieving credentials from external artifact repositories, particularly those integrated with Nexus repository managers.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's credential resolution mechanism where it fails to properly isolate credential contexts during artifact listing operations. When Jenkins processes Maven artifact choices for build configurations, the plugin performs credential lookups without maintaining proper access controls that should normally restrict credential visibility to authorized users only. This misconfiguration allows attackers with minimal Item/Configure permissions to manipulate the credential resolution process and extract authentication information that should remain protected. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of inadequate input validation and improper privilege enforcement, creating a path for credential leakage through legitimate plugin functionality.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment pipelines. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access credentials for Nexus repositories, Docker registries, or other artifact repositories that Jenkins integrates with, potentially enabling them to compromise entire build environments. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only Item/Configure permissions, which are often granted to developers and build operators who may not need full administrative access. This privilege escalation allows malicious actors to access sensitive repository credentials, potentially leading to unauthorized artifact deployment, code manipulation, or data exfiltration from connected systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a specific instance of insufficient privilege checking in credential handling processes. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1555.003 (Credentials from Password Stores) as attackers can harvest credentials through legitimate plugin interfaces. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to plugin versions 1.15 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed, implementing stricter access controls for Jenkins plugins, and conducting comprehensive credential audits to identify any potential compromise. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized credential access attempts and restricting the scope of Item/Configure permissions can help reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.