CVE-2020-2305 : What You Need to Know

Jenkins Mercurial Plugin 2.11 and earlier versions are affected by a vulnerability that exposes them to XML external entity (XXE) attacks.

Understanding CVE-2020-2305

Jenkins Mercurial Plugin versions 2.11 and below are susceptible to XXE attacks due to improper XML parser configuration.

What is CVE-2020-2305?

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Jenkins Mercurial Plugin versions 2.11 and earlier, allowing attackers to exploit XXE vulnerabilities.

The Impact of CVE-2020-2305

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access, data leakage, and potential server compromise if exploited by malicious entities.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-2305

Jenkins Mercurial Plugin's vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the lack of proper configuration in the XML parser, enabling XXE attacks on Jenkins Mercurial Plugin versions 2.11 and prior.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Jenkins Mercurial Plugin
Vendor: Jenkins project
Vulnerable Versions:
Jenkins Mercurial Plugin <= 2.11 (custom version)
Jenkins Mercurial Plugin 2.10.1 (unaffected)
Jenkins Mercurial Plugin 2.9.1 (unaffected)
Jenkins Mercurial Plugin 2.8.1 (unaffected)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious XML payloads to trigger XXE attacks, potentially leading to unauthorized data access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2020-2305 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Jenkins Mercurial Plugin to version 2.10.1 or later to avoid the vulnerability.
Implement proper input validation to prevent malicious XML input.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Jenkins and its plugins to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Jenkins project to ensure the latest fixes and enhancements are in place.