CVE-2018-1999044 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Jenkins versions 2.137 and earlier, as well as 2.121.2 and earlier, contain a denial of service vulnerability that allows attackers to force a request handling thread into an endless loop.

Understanding CVE-2018-1999044

This CVE involves a denial of service vulnerability in Jenkins versions 2.137 and earlier, as well as 2.121.2 and earlier, affecting the CronTab.java file.

What is CVE-2018-1999044?

This vulnerability enables attackers with Overall/Read permission to manipulate a request handling thread, causing it to enter an infinite loop.

The Impact of CVE-2018-1999044

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to disrupt the normal functioning of Jenkins instances.
The denial of service attack can lead to service unavailability and performance degradation.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-1999044

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Jenkins versions 2.137 and earlier allows attackers with specific permissions to trigger an infinite loop in request handling threads.

Affected Systems and Versions

Jenkins versions 2.137 and earlier
Jenkins versions 2.121.2 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with Overall/Read permission can exploit the vulnerability in the CronTab.java file to manipulate request handling threads.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-1999044 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Jenkins to the latest patched version.
Restrict Overall/Read permissions to trusted users only.
Monitor Jenkins instances for unusual request handling behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update Jenkins security configurations.
Educate users on secure permission management practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to Jenkins instances to mitigate the vulnerability.