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CVE-2017-1000353: Critical Vulnerability in Jenkins and Oracle Communications Cloud Native Core Automated Test Suite

CVE-2017-1000353 is a critical unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability affecting Jenkins and Oracle products. Organizations must patch immediately to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.

CRITICALKnown ExploitedCVSS 9.8 · Published January 29, 2018

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CVE-2017-1000353 is a critical vulnerability that allows unauthenticated remote code execution in Jenkins versions 2.56 and earlier, as well as 2.46.1 LTS and earlier. This vulnerability allows attackers to transfer a serialized Java `SignedObject` object to the Jenkins CLI, which can be deserialized using a new `ObjectInputStream`. This process bypasses the existing blacklist-based protection mechanism, enabling unauthorized command execution. Organizations using affected versions are at significant risk, making immediate action essential.

The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 9.8, categorizing it as critical due to its potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The low attack complexity and the requirement for no privileges or user interaction further exacerbate the risk to organizations. The urgency for defenders is high, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code remotely.

Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. The Jenkins team has addressed this issue by adding `SignedObject` to the blacklist and backporting the new HTTP CLI protocol from Jenkins 2.54 to LTS 2.46.2, while deprecating the remoting-based CLI protocol.

Given that this vulnerability is included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, organizations should take this warning seriously and ensure they are following best practices for remediation.

Vulnerability Details

The official description of CVE-2017-1000353 reveals that Jenkins versions 2.56 and earlier, along with 2.46.1 LTS and earlier, are vulnerable to unauthenticated remote code execution. The vulnerability occurs due to the ability of attackers to send a serialized Java `SignedObject` to the Jenkins CLI, which is then deserialized, bypassing existing security measures. The severity of this vulnerability is classified as critical, with a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating a severe risk to affected systems.

The affected products include Jenkins and Oracle's Communications Cloud Native Core Automated Test Suite. This vulnerability was published on January 29, 2018, and has been assigned the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) ID CWE-502, which pertains to deserialization of untrusted data.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of CVE-2017-1000353 is the improper handling of serialized Java objects within the Jenkins CLI. The vulnerability arises when a serialized object is sent to the CLI, allowing it to be deserialized without sufficient validation of its content. This flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, posing a severe threat to system integrity.

The attack vector is network-based, meaning that attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the internet without physical access to the system. The attack complexity is low, as no special conditions are required for exploitation. Furthermore, the vulnerability does not require any privileges, and user interaction is not necessary, making it accessible to a broad range of potential attackers.

The potential impacts of this vulnerability are significant: it can lead to high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, allowing attackers to take full control of affected systems.

Risk & Impact Analysis

The real-world deployment risk for CVE-2017-1000353 is substantial. Organizations utilizing Jenkins or Oracle's communications suite must acknowledge that their systems are vulnerable to remote code execution, which can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and service disruptions. The blast radius for this vulnerability is extensive, as it can affect any system utilizing the vulnerable versions of these products.

Given the critical CVSS score of 9.8, organizations must assess their exposure and prioritize remediation efforts immediately. This urgency is underscored by the vulnerability's inclusion in the KEV catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild.

Failure to address this vulnerability could result in significant reputational damage, financial loss, and regulatory implications, emphasizing the need for swift action.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

Yes

Public PoC

Yes

Actively Exploited

Yes

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

CVE-2017-1000353 affects Jenkins versions 2.56 and earlier, as well as Jenkins LTS 2.46.1 and earlier. Additionally, it impacts Oracle's Communications Cloud Native Core Automated Test Suite version 1.9.0. Organizations should consider all versions prior to vendor patch as vulnerable.

Mitigation & Remediation

To mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2017-1000353, organizations should apply the latest patches provided by Jenkins and Oracle. Specifically, Jenkins has addressed this vulnerability in versions post-2.56 and LTS 2.46.2. Organizations should ensure they are running an updated version to benefit from the applied security fixes.

In cases where immediate patching is not possible, consider disabling the remoting-based CLI protocol until a patch can be applied. Additionally, organizations should enhance their network defenses and monitor for suspicious activities related to the Jenkins CLI interface.

Continuous security testing should also be considered to validate the effectiveness of mitigations and ensure that no similar vulnerabilities exist in the environment.

Detection Guidance

Organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns, particularly those related to the Jenkins CLI. Specific indicators of compromise include unauthorized CLI commands being executed and unexpected serialized object transfers to the Jenkins server.

Additionally, review behavioral anomalies and network signatures that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The long-term significance of CVE-2017-1000353 highlights the persistent risk associated with improper handling of serialized data in applications. This vulnerability serves as a reminder for organizations to adopt secure coding practices, especially when dealing with serialization and deserialization processes.

The trend of remote code execution vulnerabilities continues to pose a significant threat, and security teams should remain vigilant in implementing robust defenses. Regular reviews of security configurations and continuous security assessments are critical in identifying and mitigating similar vulnerabilities in the future.

A well-structured vulnerability management program can help organizations identify and address vulnerabilities in a timely manner, reducing the risk of exploitation.

Penetration testing methodology should be employed to simulate potential attacks and validate security measures.

Staying informed about emerging security trends and statistics is essential for adapting defenses against evolving threats.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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