CVE-2023-6147 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This is a detailed overview of CVE-2023-6147, providing information on the vulnerability, impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2023-6147

CVE-2023-6147 refers to a security flaw identified in the Qualys Jenkins Plugin for Policy Compliance prior to version 1.0.5. This vulnerability could potentially lead to an XML External Entity (XXE) attack.

What is CVE-2023-6147?

The CVE-2023-6147 vulnerability is due to a missing permission check in the plugin while performing a connectivity check to Qualys Cloud Services. This oversight allowed any user with login access to configure or edit jobs to set up a potentially malicious endpoint. By manipulating responses to certain requests with XXE payloads, an attacker could exploit this flaw to carry out XXE attacks during data processing.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6147

With a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.7 (Medium severity), this vulnerability poses a threat primarily to the confidentiality of the data processed by the affected plugin. Exploitation of this vulnerability could compromise sensitive information within the Jenkins environment.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6147

The vulnerability in Qualys Jenkins Plugin for Policy Compliance arises from the lack of a permission check during connectivity checks, allowing unauthorized users to manipulate responses with XXE payloads.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in version 1.0.5 and below of the Qualys Jenkins Plugin for Policy Compliance exposes a security gap where unauthorized users could inject XXE payloads to compromise data integrity.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product is the "Policy Compliance Connector Jenkins Plugin" by Qualys, Inc. Specifically, versions up to and including 1.0.5 are vulnerable to this XXE attack.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an unauthorized user with login access needs to configure or edit jobs using the plugin, setting up a rogue endpoint that can be used to inject XXE payloads during response processing.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from the risks associated with CVE-2023-6147, immediate action is required to mitigate the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade to the minimum recommended version, 1.0.6, which contains the necessary security patches to address the XXE vulnerability in the Qualys Jenkins Plugin for Policy Compliance.

Long-Term Security Practices

In addition to updating to secure versions promptly, organizations should implement robust security practices, including regular security assessments, access controls, and user permissions, to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying software updates and security patches provided by vendors is crucial to maintaining a secure software environment and mitigating the risks associated with known vulnerabilities.

By following these mitigation and prevention measures, organizations can enhance the resilience of their systems against potential cyber threats.