CVE-2023-49653 in Jira Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/29/2023
Jenkins Jira Plugin 3.11 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 • 12/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-49653 affects the Jenkins Jira Plugin version 3.11 and earlier, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of Jenkins environments. This issue stems from improper credential context handling within the plugin's configuration mechanisms, creating a scenario where unauthorized users can escalate their privileges and access sensitive authentication information. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems where the Jira Plugin is installed and configured, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment workflows.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the plugin's failure to properly validate and enforce credential context boundaries during the configuration process. When administrators configure Jira integration within Jenkins, the plugin should ensure that only authorized users with appropriate permissions can access the associated credentials. However, the flaw allows attackers with merely Item/Configure permission to manipulate the credential lookup process and extract authentication information that should be restricted to higher-privileged users. This improper access control implementation creates a direct pathway for credential theft and potential lateral movement within the Jenkins environment. The vulnerability operates at the application level and can be exploited through the Jenkins web interface without requiring elevated system privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-49653 extends beyond simple credential theft, potentially enabling attackers to gain access to downstream systems that rely on Jira integration for authentication and authorization. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can capture Jira credentials and use them to access Jira instances, potentially leading to further privilege escalation and access to additional systems within the organization's infrastructure. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it accessible to users who should not have access to sensitive configuration information. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in authentication mechanisms, and represents a classic example of insufficient access control validation. The impact is amplified in environments where Jenkins serves as a central automation platform, as compromised credentials could provide attackers with access to multiple integrated systems and services.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Jenkins Jira Plugin version 3.12 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for the underlying credential handling flaw. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their Jenkins configurations to identify any instances of the vulnerable plugin version and ensure that all Jira integrations are properly secured. The mitigation strategy should include implementing principle of least privilege for Jenkins users, regularly reviewing access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes. Security teams should also consider implementing additional detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts, including monitoring for unusual credential access patterns and configuration modifications. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper credential management and access control validation in plugin architectures, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1555 for credential access and T1078 for valid accounts. Organizations should also review their overall Jenkins security posture, including regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning, to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of their automation infrastructure.