CVE-2019-16548 : Security Advisory and Response

An exploit in the Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin version 4.1.1 and earlier could be utilized to create new agents.

Understanding CVE-2019-16548

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin that allows for the creation of new agents.

What is CVE-2019-16548?

A cross-site request forgery vulnerability in the Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin version 4.1.1 and earlier in the ComputeEngineCloud#doProvision function could be exploited to provision new agents.

The Impact of CVE-2019-16548

Attackers could potentially create new agents on the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-16548

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin version 4.1.1 and earlier, specifically in the ComputeEngineCloud#doProvision function, allowing unauthorized creation of new agents.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin
Vendor: Jenkins project
Versions Affected: 4.1.1 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited through a cross-site request forgery attack in the ComputeEngineCloud#doProvision function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-16548 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin to a non-vulnerable version.
Monitor agent creation activities for any suspicious behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update plugins to their latest versions.
Implement CSRF protection mechanisms to prevent such attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Jenkins project to address the vulnerability.