CVE-2023-37948 : Security Advisory and Response

A security vulnerability has been identified in Jenkins Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute Plugin that could potentially allow for man-in-the-middle attacks. Here is what you need to know about CVE-2023-37948.

Understanding CVE-2023-37948

This section will provide an overview of the vulnerability and its impact, along with technical details and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-37948?

The CVE-2023-37948 vulnerability affects Jenkins Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute Plugin version 1.0.16 and earlier. It arises due to the lack of SSH host key validation when connecting to OCI clouds, which can expose systems to man-in-the-middle attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2023-37948

The vulnerability allows malicious actors to intercept communication between the Jenkins plugin and OCI clouds, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or service disruption.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-37948

This section will delve into the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Jenkins Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute Plugin 1.0.16 and earlier fail to validate SSH host keys when establishing connections with OCI clouds, providing an opportunity for attackers to intercept and manipulate data.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts systems running Jenkins Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute Plugin versions 1.0.16 and below, utilizing Maven for version management.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the lack of SSH host key validation, threat actors can execute man-in-the-middle attacks, intercepting traffic between the Jenkins plugin and OCI clouds for nefarious purposes.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we will outline immediate steps to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2023-37948 and strategies for long-term security enhancement.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Jenkins Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute Plugin to version 1.0.17 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched.
Ensure SSH host key validation is enforced when establishing connections with OCI clouds.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates related to Jenkins plugins to stay informed about potential vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks within your environment.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from the Jenkins Project to promptly address any future vulnerabilities and ensure a secure software environment.