CVE-2021-21624: Role strategy Incorrect Permission Checks Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-rm4m-39fj-288c
CVSS 4.3
CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-21624 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) incorrect permission checks vulnerability (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) affecting Role strategy libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves incorrect permission checks in jenkins role-based authorization strategy plugin may allow accessing some items. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.1.1.

CVE-2021-21624 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-21624
GHSA Identifier GHSA-rm4m-39fj-288c
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.3
CWE Classification CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
Affected Product Role strategy
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-2021-21624

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Role strategy 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:role-strategy fixed: 3.1.1
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>role-strategy</artifactId>
    <version>3.1.1</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-2021-21624, 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 Role strategy in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.1.1), 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-863: Incorrect Authorization, where the product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check. In Role strategy, 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

Items (like jobs) can be organized hierarchically in Jenkins, using the Folders Plugin or something similar. An item is expected to be accessible only if all its ancestors are accessible as well. Role-based Authorization Strategy Plugin 3.1 and earlier does not correctly perform permission checks to determine whether an item should be accessible. This allows attackers with Item/Read permission on nested items to access them, even if they lack Item/Read permission for parent folders. Role-based Authorization Strategy Plugin 3.1.1 requires Item/Read permission on parent items to grant Item/Read permission on an individual item. As a workaround in older releases, do not grant permissions on individual items to users who do not have access to parent items. In case of problems, the [Java system property](https://www.jenkins.io/doc/book/managing/system-properties/) `com.michelin.cio.hudson.plugins.rolestrategy.RoleMap.checkParentPermissions` can be set to false, completely disabling this fix.

CVE-2021-21624 Affected Role strategy Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.1.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.plugins:role-strategy
Maven
< 3.1.1
3.1.1

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-21624?
CVE-2021-21624 is a security vulnerability in Role strategy involving Incorrect permission checks in Jenkins Role-based Authorization Strategy Plugin may allow accessing some items under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization.
Which Role strategy versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.1.1 across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.plugins:role-strategy.
What version fixes CVE-2021-21624?
Upgrading to 3.1.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is role-strategy affected?
Yes, org.jenkins-ci.plugins:role-strategy is affected in releases prior to 3.1.1. Upgrade your dependency to 3.1.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-21624?
CVE-2021-21624 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-2021-21624?
CVE-2021-21624 is classified under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization (The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-21624?
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
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-rm4m-39fj-288c",
  "modified" : "2023-10-27T13:46:00Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:44:48Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-21624" ],
  "summary" : "Incorrect permission checks in Jenkins Role-based Authorization Strategy Plugin may allow accessing some items",
  "details" : "Items (like jobs) can be organized hierarchically in Jenkins, using the Folders Plugin or something similar. An item is expected to be accessible only if all its ancestors are accessible as well.\n\nRole-based Authorization Strategy Plugin 3.1 and earlier does not correctly perform permission checks to determine whether an item should be accessible.\n\nThis allows attackers with Item/Read permission on nested items to access them, even if they lack Item/Read permission for parent folders.\n\nRole-based Authorization Strategy Plugin 3.1.1 requires Item/Read permission on parent items to grant Item/Read permission on an individual item.\n\nAs a workaround in older releases, do not grant permissions on individual items to users who do not have access to parent items.\n\nIn case of problems, the [Java system property](https://www.jenkins.io/doc/book/managing/system-properties/) `com.michelin.cio.hudson.plugins.rolestrategy.RoleMap.checkParentPermissions` can be set to false, completely disabling this fix.",
  "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:role-strategy"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.1.1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.1"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21624"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/role-strategy-plugin/commit/2490ed51c30f6df9db809a7dcf637ac8ac08233a"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/role-strategy-plugin"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2021-03-18/#SECURITY-2182"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/03/18/5"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-12-14T16:28:15Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-03-18T14:15:00Z"
  }
}