CVE-2012-4438: Jenkins core Jenkins Allows Data Insertion And Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wr6p-j63r-xqhv
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2012-4438 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) jenkins allows data insertion and vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Jenkins core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves jenkins allows data insertion and execution of code by those with read and http access. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.466.2, 1.482.

CVE-2012-4438 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2012-4438
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wr6p-j63r-xqhv
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Jenkins core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

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:H/I:H/A:H).

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 High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2012-4438

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Jenkins core 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.main:jenkins-core fixed: 1.466.2 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.main</groupId>
    <artifactId>jenkins-core</artifactId>
    <version>1.466.2</version>
</dependency>
org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core fixed: 1.482 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.main</groupId>
    <artifactId>jenkins-core</artifactId>
    <version>1.482</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.main

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2012-4438, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Jenkins core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.466.2), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.main 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Jenkins core, 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 main before 1.482 and LTS before 1.466.2 allows remote attackers with read access and HTTP access to Jenkins master to insert data and execute arbitrary code.

CVE-2012-4438 Affected Jenkins core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.466.21.482
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core
maven/org.jenkins-ci.main/jenkins-core
Maven
< 1.466.2
1.466.2
org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core
maven/org.jenkins-ci.main/jenkins-core
Maven
≥ 1.467
< 1.482
1.482

References

NVD — CVE-2012-4438 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-4438
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2012-4438
Jenkins core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/jenkinsci/jenkins
Jenkins core Security Information SECURITY
https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-4438
Jenkins core Security Information SECURITY
https://www.cloudbees.com/jenkins-security-advisory-2012-09-17
Jenkins core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/09/21/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2012-4438?
CVE-2012-4438 is a security vulnerability in Jenkins core involving Jenkins allows Data Insertion and Execution of Code by those with Read and HTTP Access under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Jenkins core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.466.2, 1.482 across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core.
What version fixes CVE-2012-4438?
Upgrading to 1.466.2, 1.482 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is jenkins-core affected?
Yes, org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core is affected in releases prior to 1.466.2, 1.482. Upgrade your dependency to 1.466.2, 1.482 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2012-4438?
CVE-2012-4438 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2012-4438?
CVE-2012-4438 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2012-4438?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jenkins-ci.main'. 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-wr6p-j63r-xqhv",
  "modified" : "2025-03-12T15:52:59Z",
  "published" : "2022-04-23T00:40:12Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2012-4438" ],
  "summary" : "Jenkins allows Data Insertion and Execution of Code by those with Read and HTTP Access",
  "details" : "Jenkins main before 1.482 and LTS before 1.466.2 allows remote attackers with read access and HTTP access to Jenkins master to insert data and execute arbitrary code.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.466.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.main:jenkins-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.467"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.482"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-4438"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2012-4438"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/jenkins"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-4438"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.cloudbees.com/jenkins-security-advisory-2012-09-17"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/09/21/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-03-12T15:52:59Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2019-11-18T21:15:00Z"
  }
}