CVE-2023-28668: Role strategy Jenkins Role-based Authorization Strategy Plugin Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-436g-2f92-cvhh
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CVSS 5.9
CWE-281
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-28668 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.9) jenkins role-based authorization strategy plugin vulnerability (CWE-281: Improper Preservation of Permissions) affecting Role strategy libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves jenkins role-based authorization strategy plugin grants permissions even after they’ve been disabled. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 587.588.v850a_20a_30162.

CVE-2023-28668 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-28668
GHSA Identifier GHSA-436g-2f92-cvhh
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.9
CWE Classification CWE-281: Improper Preservation of Permissions
Affected Product Role strategy
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/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 Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-28668

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: 587.588.v850a_20a_30162 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>role-strategy</artifactId>
    <version>587.588.v850a_20a_30162</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-2023-28668, 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 587.588.v850a_20a_30162), 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-281: Improper Preservation of Permissions, where the product does not preserve permissions or incorrectly preserves permissions when copying, restoring, or sharing objects, which can cause them to have less restrictive permissions than intended. 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

Permissions in Jenkins can be enabled and disabled. Some permissions are disabled by default, e.g., Overall/Manage or Item/Extended Read. Disabled permissions cannot be granted directly, only through greater permissions that imply them (e.g., Overall/Administer or Item/Configure). Role-based Authorization Strategy Plugin 587.v2872c41fa_e51 and earlier grants permissions even after they’ve been disabled. This allows attackers to have greater access than they’re entitled to after the following operations took place: A permission is granted to attackers directly or through groups. The permission is disabled, e.g., through the script console. Role-based Authorization Strategy Plugin 587.588.v850a_20a_30162 does not grant disabled permissions.

CVE-2023-28668 Affected Role strategy Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
587.588.v850a_20a_30162
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jenkins-ci.plugins:role-strategy
maven/org.jenkins-ci.plugins/role-strategy
Maven
< 587.588.v850a_20a_30162
587.588.v850a_20a_30162

References

NVD — CVE-2023-28668 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28668
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/jenkinsci/role-strategy-plugin/commit/850a20a3016276d0c0ba4898a876c113a9191da4
Role strategy Security Information SECURITY
https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2023-03-21/#SECURITY-3053

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-28668?
CVE-2023-28668 is a security vulnerability in Role strategy involving Jenkins Role-based Authorization Strategy Plugin grants permissions even after they’ve been disabled under CWE-281: Improper Preservation of Permissions.
Which Role strategy versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 587.588.v850a_20a_30162 across affected packages: org.jenkins-ci.plugins:role-strategy.
What version fixes CVE-2023-28668?
Upgrading to 587.588.v850a_20a_30162 (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 587.588.v850a_20a_30162. Upgrade your dependency to 587.588.v850a_20a_30162 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-28668?
CVE-2023-28668 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.9 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-28668?
CVE-2023-28668 is classified under CWE-281: Improper Preservation of Permissions (The product does not preserve permissions or incorrectly preserves permissions when copying, restoring, or sharing objects, which can cause them to have less restrictive permissions than intended.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-28668?
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-436g-2f92-cvhh",
  "modified" : "2025-02-25T21:42:00Z",
  "published" : "2023-04-02T21:30:17Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-28668" ],
  "summary" : "Jenkins Role-based Authorization Strategy Plugin grants permissions even after they’ve been disabled",
  "details" : "Permissions in Jenkins can be enabled and disabled. Some permissions are disabled by default, e.g., Overall/Manage or Item/Extended Read. Disabled permissions cannot be granted directly, only through greater permissions that imply them (e.g., Overall/Administer or Item/Configure).\n\nRole-based Authorization Strategy Plugin 587.v2872c41fa_e51 and earlier grants permissions even after they’ve been disabled.\n\nThis allows attackers to have greater access than they’re entitled to after the following operations took place:\n\nA permission is granted to attackers directly or through groups.\n\nThe permission is disabled, e.g., through the script console.\n\nRole-based Authorization Strategy Plugin 587.588.v850a_20a_30162 does not grant disabled permissions.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jenkins-ci.plugins:role-strategy"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "587.588.v850a_20a_30162"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "< 587.588.v850a"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28668"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jenkinsci/role-strategy-plugin/commit/850a20a3016276d0c0ba4898a876c113a9191da4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2023-03-21/#SECURITY-3053"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-281" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-04-03T22:55:17Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-04-02T21:15:00Z"
  }
}