CVE-2023-32983: Ansible Jenkins Ansible Plugin Job Configuration Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-97wp-63wq-hfwh
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CVSS 4.3
CWE-312
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-32983 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) jenkins ansible plugin job configuration vulnerability (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) affecting Ansible libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves jenkins ansible plugin job configuration form does not mask variables. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 205.v4cb.

CVE-2023-32983 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-32983
GHSA Identifier GHSA-97wp-63wq-hfwh
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.3
CWE Classification CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information
Affected Product Ansible
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.3

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-32983

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Ansible dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.jenkins-ci.plugins:ansible fixed: 205.v4cb 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>ansible</artifactId>
    <version>205.v4cb</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-32983, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Ansible in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 205.v4cb), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, where the product stores sensitive information in cleartext within a resource that might be accessible to another control sphere. In Ansible, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Jenkins Ansible Plugin allows the specification of extra variables that can be passed to Ansible. These extra variables are commonly used to pass secrets. Ansible Plugin 204.v8191fd551eb_f and earlier stores these extra variables unencrypted in job `config.xml` files on the Jenkins controller as part of its configuration. These extra variables can be viewed by users with Item/Extended Read permission or access to the Jenkins controller file system. Additionally, the job configuration form does not mask these extra variables, increasing the potential for attackers to observe and capture them. Ansible Plugin 205.v4cb_c48657c21 masks extra variables displayed on the configuration form, and stores them encrypted once job configurations are saved again.

CVE-2023-32983 Affected Ansible Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
205.v4cb
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.plugins:ansible
maven/org.jenkins-ci.plugins/ansible
Maven
< 205.v4cb
205.v4cb

References

NVD — CVE-2023-32983 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-32983
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/jenkinsci/ansible-plugin/commit/4cbc48657c21a65a917b3b3049918480198c0cfb
Ansible Security Information SECURITY
https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2023-05-16/#SECURITY-3017

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-32983?
CVE-2023-32983 is a security vulnerability in Ansible involving Jenkins Ansible Plugin job configuration form does not mask variables under CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information.
Which Ansible versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 205.v4cb across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.plugins:ansible.
What version fixes CVE-2023-32983?
Upgrading to 205.v4cb (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is ansible affected?
Yes, org.jenkins-ci.plugins:ansible is affected in releases prior to 205.v4cb. Upgrade your dependency to 205.v4cb or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-32983?
CVE-2023-32983 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-32983?
CVE-2023-32983 is classified under CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information (The product stores sensitive information in cleartext within a resource that might be accessible to another control sphere.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-32983?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.plugins'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-97wp-63wq-hfwh",
  "modified" : "2023-05-17T03:06:37Z",
  "published" : "2023-05-16T18:30:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-32983" ],
  "summary" : "Jenkins Ansible Plugin job configuration form does not mask variables",
  "details" : "Jenkins Ansible Plugin allows the specification of extra variables that can be passed to Ansible. These extra variables are commonly used to pass secrets.\n\nAnsible Plugin 204.v8191fd551eb_f and earlier stores these extra variables unencrypted in job `config.xml` files on the Jenkins controller as part of its configuration.\n\nThese extra variables can be viewed by users with Item/Extended Read permission or access to the Jenkins controller file system.\n\nAdditionally, the job configuration form does not mask these extra variables, increasing the potential for attackers to observe and capture them.\n\nAnsible Plugin 205.v4cb_c48657c21 masks extra variables displayed on the configuration form, and stores them encrypted once job configurations are saved again.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.plugins:ansible"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "205.v4cb"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-32983"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/ansible-plugin/commit/4cbc48657c21a65a917b3b3049918480198c0cfb"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2023-05-16/#SECURITY-3017"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-312" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-05-17T03:06:37Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-05-16T16:15:10Z"
  }
}