CVE-2024-23897 is a critical vulnerability identified in Jenkins, specifically affecting versions 2.441 and earlier, as well as LTS 2.426.2 and earlier. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit a feature of the Jenkins CLI command parser that inadvertently replaces an '@' character followed by a file path with the file's contents. This design flaw can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive files on the Jenkins controller file system.
With a CVSS score of 9.8, this vulnerability poses a significant threat to organizations using Jenkins. The risk to organizations includes unauthorized file access, which could potentially lead to further attacks or data breaches. Given that this vulnerability can be exploited without authentication, immediate action is required to mitigate the associated risks.
The urgency for defenders is critical, as active exploitation of this vulnerability has been confirmed. Organizations must prioritize patching Jenkins installations to protect against potential unauthorized file access and subsequent risks.
In summary, CVE-2024-23897 represents a serious security issue for Jenkins users. The lack of required authentication for exploitation underscores the urgency of applying the necessary patches.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is classified as a path traversal issue, which falls under the CWE-22 and CWE-27 categories. It allows attackers to access sensitive files by crafting specific commands that exploit the Jenkins CLI functionality. The potential impacts include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts due to unrestricted file access.
Jenkins has published security advisories outlining the remedial actions necessary to mitigate this vulnerability. Users are encouraged to upgrade to the latest versions of Jenkins to avoid exploitation.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is a failure to disable a specific feature in the CLI command parser. This feature allows for the substitution of an '@' character followed by a file path with the contents of the specified file. Consequently, when an attacker exploits this feature, they can read arbitrary files from the Jenkins server, potentially exposing sensitive information.
The attack vector is classified as network-based (AV:N) with low complexity (AC:L), meaning that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability without needing extensive technical skills. There are no privileges required (PR:N) or user interactions necessary (UI:N), further increasing the risk. The impacts of such exploitation can be severe, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2024-23897 is significant. Organizations using Jenkins must consider the potential for unauthorized access to sensitive files, which could lead to data breaches or further exploitation. The blast radius includes any Jenkins instance that has not applied the necessary patches, emphasizing the need for prompt remediation.
Urgency assessment indicates that organizations should prioritize this vulnerability in their patching cycles. Given the high severity and active exploitation status, failure to act could result in severe consequences, including data loss and reputational damage.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | Yes |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Jenkins include all versions prior to 2.442 and LTS versions prior to 2.426.3. Organizations using these versions should upgrade immediately to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must apply the latest patches provided by Jenkins to address this vulnerability. If patches are not available, consider discontinuing the use of the Jenkins CLI until a fix is implemented. For comprehensive security, organizations should consider implementing penetration testing services to identify further vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Behavioral anomalies, such as unexpected file access or command execution, should be flagged for further analysis. Additionally, network signatures associated with the exploitation of this vulnerability should be documented and monitored.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-23897 lies in its demonstration of the security challenges associated with CLI tools in CI/CD environments. This vulnerability serves as a reminder for security teams to implement strict access controls and regular security audits of their Jenkins environments. It highlights the importance of understanding the potential impacts of configuration settings and the need for ongoing vigilance.
To effectively manage risks, organizations should develop a robust vulnerability management program to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
For Jenkins users, implementing continuous security testing will be critical in managing the evolving threat landscape and ensuring that similar vulnerabilities do not arise in the future. Finally, organizations should consider reviewing their security posture by engaging in continuous security testing practices.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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