CVE-2020-2181: Credentials binding Secrets Are Not Masked By Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-43j2-r4v3-m8jp
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-522
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-2181 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) secrets are not masked by vulnerability (CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials) affecting Credentials binding libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves secrets are not masked by jenkins credentials binding plugin in builds without build steps. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.23.

CVE-2020-2181 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-2181
GHSA Identifier GHSA-43j2-r4v3-m8jp
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
Affected Product Credentials binding
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2020-2181

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Credentials binding 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:credentials-binding fixed: 1.23 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>credentials-binding</artifactId>
    <version>1.23</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-2020-2181, 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 Credentials binding in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.23), 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-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials, where the product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval. In Credentials binding, 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 Credentials Binding Plugin 1.22 and earlier does not mask (i.e., replace with asterisks) secrets in the build log when the build contains no build steps. Jenkins Credentials Binding Plugin 1.23 now masks secrets when the build contains no build steps.

CVE-2020-2181 Affected Credentials binding Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.23
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.plugins:credentials-binding
maven/org.jenkins-ci.plugins/credentials-binding
Maven
< 1.23
1.23

References

NVD — CVE-2020-2181 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-2181
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/jenkinsci/credentials-binding-plugin/commit/59ead11bcb3fd132258d1d7da4a34d47750f40d2
Credentials binding Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/jenkinsci/credentials-binding-plugin
Credentials binding Security Information SECURITY
https://jenkins.io/security/advisory/2020-05-06/#SECURITY-1374
Credentials binding Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/05/06/3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-2181?
CVE-2020-2181 is a security vulnerability in Credentials binding involving Secrets are not masked by Jenkins Credentials Binding Plugin in builds without build steps under CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials.
Which Credentials binding versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.23 across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.plugins:credentials-binding.
What version fixes CVE-2020-2181?
Upgrading to 1.23 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is credentials-binding affected?
Yes, org.jenkins-ci.plugins:credentials-binding is affected in releases prior to 1.23. Upgrade your dependency to 1.23 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-2181?
CVE-2020-2181 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-2181?
CVE-2020-2181 is classified under CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials (The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-2181?
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-43j2-r4v3-m8jp",
  "modified" : "2023-12-14T09:16:26Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:17:14Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-2181" ],
  "summary" : "Secrets are not masked by Jenkins Credentials Binding Plugin in builds without build steps",
  "details" : "Jenkins Credentials Binding Plugin 1.22 and earlier does not mask (i.e., replace with asterisks) secrets in the build log when the build contains no build steps.\n\nJenkins Credentials Binding Plugin 1.23 now masks secrets when the build contains no build steps.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.plugins:credentials-binding"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.23"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 1.22"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-2181"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/credentials-binding-plugin/commit/59ead11bcb3fd132258d1d7da4a34d47750f40d2"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/credentials-binding-plugin"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jenkins.io/security/advisory/2020-05-06/#SECURITY-1374"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/05/06/3"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-522" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-06-24T00:57:14Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-05-06T13:15:00Z"
  }
}