CVE-2026-33003 in LoadNinja Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/18/2026
Jenkins LoadNinja Plugin 2.1 and earlier stores LoadNinja API keys unencrypted in job config.xml files on the Jenkins controller where they can be viewed by users with Item/Extended Read permission or access to the Jenkins controller file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-33003 affects the Jenkins LoadNinja Plugin version 2.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through improper credential handling practices. This issue stems from the plugin's failure to implement appropriate encryption mechanisms when storing sensitive API keys within Jenkins job configuration files. The flaw allows attackers with minimal privileges to access these credentials, fundamentally undermining the security posture of Jenkins environments that utilize this plugin for performance testing and load simulation activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's configuration storage mechanism where LoadNinja API keys are persisted in plain text format within the job config.xml files located on the Jenkins controller. This design decision violates fundamental security principles for credential management and directly aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling. The vulnerability manifests when users possess Item/Extended Read permission, which is a relatively low privilege level within Jenkins access control model, allowing them to read job configurations and extract the unencrypted API keys. Additionally, the flaw becomes exploitable when attackers gain direct file system access to the Jenkins controller, further expanding the attack surface and potential impact of credential exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as LoadNinja API keys provide access to performance testing resources and potentially sensitive data within the testing environment. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can leverage the stolen API keys to execute unauthorized load tests, potentially causing denial of service conditions against target applications or systems. The exposure also enables privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors can use the legitimate API access to perform actions that should be restricted to authorized users only. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment pipelines, where load testing is integrated into automated workflows and where the exposure of API keys could compromise entire testing infrastructures.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Jenkins LoadNinja Plugin version 2.2 or later, which implements proper encryption mechanisms for API key storage. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing principle of least privilege access controls, ensuring that only authorized personnel possess Item/Extended Read permissions on Jenkins jobs containing sensitive configurations. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of Jenkins configurations to identify and remediate any existing instances of unencrypted API keys in job configuration files. Additionally, implementing file system access controls and monitoring mechanisms can help detect unauthorized access attempts to Jenkins controller file systems. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure credential handling practices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which addresses the exploitation of credentials in plain text files, emphasizing the need for robust encryption and access control measures in CI/CD environments.