CVE-2020-2298: Nerrvana plugin XXE Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wcrg-92wp-4h28
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CVSS 6.5
CWE-611
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-2298 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) xxe vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) affecting Nerrvana plugin libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves xxe vulnerability in jenkins nerrvana plugin. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2020-2298 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-2298
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wcrg-92wp-4h28
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Affected Product Nerrvana plugin
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

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: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 High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2020-2298

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Nerrvana plugin 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:nerrvana-plugin fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>nerrvana-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</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-2020-2298, 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 Nerrvana plugin in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), 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-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, where the product processes an xml document that can contain xml entities with uris that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output. In Nerrvana plugin, 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 Nerrvana Plugin 1.02.06 and earlier does not configure its XML parser to prevent XML external entity (XXE) attacks. This allows attackers with Overall/Read permission to have Jenkins parse a crafted HTTP request with XML data that uses external entities for extraction of secrets from the Jenkins controller or server-side request forgery. Additionally, XML parsing is exposed as a form validation endpoint that does not require POST requests, allowing exploitation by users without Overall/Read permission via CSRF.

CVE-2020-2298 Affected Nerrvana plugin Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.plugins:nerrvana-plugin
maven/org.jenkins-ci.plugins/nerrvana-plugin
Maven
≤ 1.02.06

References

NVD — CVE-2020-2298 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-2298
Nerrvana plugin Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/jenkinsci/nerrvana-plugin
Nerrvana plugin Security Information SECURITY
https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2020-10-08/#SECURITY-2097
Nerrvana plugin Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/10/08/5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-2298?
CVE-2020-2298 is a security vulnerability in Nerrvana plugin involving XXE vulnerability in Jenkins Nerrvana Plugin under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference.
Which Nerrvana plugin versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.plugins:nerrvana-plugin.
What version fixes CVE-2020-2298?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is nerrvana-plugin affected?
Yes, org.jenkins-ci.plugins:nerrvana-plugin is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-2298?
CVE-2020-2298 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-2298?
CVE-2020-2298 is classified under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-2298?
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-wcrg-92wp-4h28",
  "modified" : "2023-10-27T11:58:39Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:30:19Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-2298" ],
  "summary" : "XXE vulnerability in Jenkins Nerrvana Plugin",
  "details" : "Jenkins Nerrvana Plugin 1.02.06 and earlier does not configure its XML parser to prevent XML external entity (XXE) attacks.\n\nThis allows attackers with Overall/Read permission to have Jenkins parse a crafted HTTP request with XML data that uses external entities for extraction of secrets from the Jenkins controller or server-side request forgery.\n\nAdditionally, XML parsing is exposed as a form validation endpoint that does not require POST requests, allowing exploitation by users without Overall/Read permission via CSRF.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.plugins:nerrvana-plugin"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "1.02.06"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-2298"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/nerrvana-plugin"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2020-10-08/#SECURITY-2097"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/10/08/5"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-611" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-12-21T18:52:12Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-10-08T13:15:00Z"
  }
}