A fundamental security vulnerability has been established for Jenkins which is a well-known open-source Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) automation tool. This vulnerability which has been identified as CVE-2024-23897, can carry out remote code execution (RCE), and thus pose a significant risk to the organizations that rely on Jenkins as their software development pipelines.
Overview:
The vulnerability lies in arbitrary file read bug in CLI of Jenkins, which uses args4j library for parsing command arguments. Through this weakness, threat actors could obtain unauthorized access to any file on the Jenkins controller file system and perform other malicious activities including data theft or RCE.
Preventive measures:
To deal with CVE-2024-23897 risks, organizations should:
- Update Jenkins: Make sure that every installation of Jenkins is up-to-date with the latest version either 2.442 or LTS 2.426.3 designed to remedy the situation.
- Disable CLI access: As an interim solution, consider disabling access to the Jenkins CLI until the patch can be implemented. It will help reduce exploitation risks by doing this temporarily.
- Monitor for suspicious activities: Regularly monitor Jenkins logs and server activities for signs of unauthorized access or unusual behavior, which may indicate attempted exploitation.
- Implement least privilege: Adopt a least privilege approach by restricting user permissions within Jenkins to only essential roles, reducing the potential impact of successful attacks.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the CVE-2024-23897 vulnerability in Jenkins highlights the critical importance of robust security practices within CI/CD environments. Timely patching, proactive monitoring, and adherence to least privilege principles are fundamental to mitigating the risks posed by such vulnerabilities and protecting critical infrastructure from potential exploitation. It is imperative for organizations to prioritize updating their Jenkins installations and implementing necessary security measures to mitigate exposure to this and similar threats in the future.
Reference:
https://thehackernews.com/2024/01/critical-jenkins-vulnerability-exposes.html
