CVE-2023-39154: Qualys was Incorrect Permission Checks Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8wgf-3mrj-73x7
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CVSS 4.2
CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-39154 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.2) incorrect permission checks vulnerability (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) affecting Qualys was libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves incorrect permission checks in qualys web app scanning connector plugin allow capturing credentials. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.11.

CVE-2023-39154 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-39154
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8wgf-3mrj-73x7
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.2
CWE Classification CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
Affected Product Qualys was
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.2

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:L/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 Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-39154

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Qualys was dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

com.qualys.plugins:qualys-was fixed: 2.0.11 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.qualys.plugins</groupId>
    <artifactId>qualys-was</artifactId>
    <version>2.0.11</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=com.qualys.plugins

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-39154, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.qualys.plugins

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Qualys was in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.0.11), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.qualys.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 Qualys was, 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

Qualys Web App Scanning Connector Plugin 2.0.10 and earlier does not correctly perform permission checks in several HTTP endpoints. This allows attackers with global Item/Configure permission to connect to an attacker-specified URL using attacker-specified credentials IDs obtained through another method, capturing credentials stored in Jenkins. Qualys Web App Scanning Connector Plugin 2.0.11 requires the appropriate permissions for the affected HTTP endpoints.

CVE-2023-39154 Affected Qualys was Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.0.11
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.qualys.plugins:qualys-was
maven/com.qualys.plugins/qualys-was
Maven
< 2.0.11
2.0.11

References

NVD — CVE-2023-39154 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-39154
Qualys was Security Information SECURITY
https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2023-07-26/#SECURITY-3012
Qualys was Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/26/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-39154?
CVE-2023-39154 is a security vulnerability in Qualys was involving Incorrect permission checks in Qualys Web App Scanning Connector Plugin allow capturing credentials under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization.
Which Qualys was versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0.11 across affected packages: com.qualys.plugins:qualys-was.
What version fixes CVE-2023-39154?
Upgrading to 2.0.11 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is qualys-was affected?
Yes, com.qualys.plugins:qualys-was is affected in releases prior to 2.0.11. Upgrade your dependency to 2.0.11 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-39154?
CVE-2023-39154 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.2 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-39154?
CVE-2023-39154 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-2023-39154?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.qualys.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-8wgf-3mrj-73x7",
  "modified" : "2023-07-31T19:01:10Z",
  "published" : "2023-07-26T15:30:57Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-39154" ],
  "summary" : "Incorrect permission checks in Qualys Web App Scanning Connector Plugin allow capturing credentials ",
  "details" : "Qualys Web App Scanning Connector Plugin 2.0.10 and earlier does not correctly perform permission checks in several HTTP endpoints.\n\nThis allows attackers with global Item/Configure permission to connect to an attacker-specified URL using attacker-specified credentials IDs obtained through another method, capturing credentials stored in Jenkins.\n\nQualys Web App Scanning Connector Plugin 2.0.11 requires the appropriate permissions for the affected HTTP endpoints.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.qualys.plugins:qualys-was"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.0.11"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-39154"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2023-07-26/#SECURITY-3012"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/26/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-07-26T22:37:36Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-07-26T14:15:10Z"
  }
}