CVE-2019-16546: Google compute engine Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-345p-pw5q-g98v
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CVSS 6.8
CWE-639 CWE-300
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2019-16546 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.8) jenkins google compute engine plugin vulnerability (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting Google compute engine libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves jenkins google compute engine plugin does not verify ssh host keys when connecting agents created by the plugin. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.2.0.

CVE-2019-16546 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2019-16546
GHSA Identifier GHSA-345p-pw5q-g98v
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.8
CWE Classification CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
Affected Product Google compute engine
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2019-16546

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Google compute engine 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:google-compute-engine fixed: 4.2.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>google-compute-engine</artifactId>
    <version>4.2.0</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-2019-16546, 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 Google compute engine in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.2.0), 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-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key, where the system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data. In Google compute engine, 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 Google Compute Engine Plugin 4.1.1 and earlier does not verify SSH host keys when connecting agents created by the plugin, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks. Google Compute Engine Plugin 4.2.0 verifies SSH host keys before executing any commands on agents.

CVE-2019-16546 Affected Google compute engine Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.2.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.plugins:google-compute-engine
maven/org.jenkins-ci.plugins/google-compute-engine
Maven
< 4.2.0
4.2.0

References

NVD — CVE-2019-16546 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16546
Google compute engine Security Information SECURITY
https://jenkins.io/security/advisory/2019-11-21/#SECURITY-1584
Google compute engine Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/11/21/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-16546?
CVE-2019-16546 is a security vulnerability in Google compute engine involving Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin does not verify SSH host keys when connecting agents created by the plugin under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key.
Which Google compute engine versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.2.0 across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.plugins:google-compute-engine.
What version fixes CVE-2019-16546?
Upgrading to 4.2.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is google-compute-engine affected?
Yes, org.jenkins-ci.plugins:google-compute-engine is affected in releases prior to 4.2.0. Upgrade your dependency to 4.2.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-16546?
CVE-2019-16546 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2019-16546?
CVE-2019-16546 is classified under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key (The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2019-16546?
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-345p-pw5q-g98v",
  "modified" : "2022-12-06T21:58:57Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:01:41Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2019-16546" ],
  "summary" : "Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin does not verify SSH host keys when connecting agents created by the plugin",
  "details" : "Jenkins Google Compute Engine Plugin 4.1.1 and earlier does not verify SSH host keys when connecting agents created by the plugin, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks. Google Compute Engine Plugin 4.2.0 verifies SSH host keys before executing any commands on agents.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.plugins:google-compute-engine"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.2.0"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 4.1.1"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16546"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jenkins.io/security/advisory/2019-11-21/#SECURITY-1584"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/11/21/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-300", "CWE-639" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-12-06T21:58:57Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2019-11-21T15:15:00Z"
  }
}