CVE-2026-57297 Overview
CVE-2026-57297 affects the Jenkins Contrast Continuous Application Security Plugin version 3.11 and earlier. The plugin contains a missing permission check that allows attackers with Overall/Read permission to connect to an attacker-specified URL using attacker-supplied credentials. The flaw exposes Jenkins controllers to credential abuse and outbound connection attacks initiated through the plugin's connection-testing functionality.
Critical Impact
Authenticated users with minimal read-level access can coerce the Jenkins controller to issue connections to arbitrary URLs using attacker-controlled usernames, API keys, and service keys.
Affected Products
- Jenkins Contrast Continuous Application Security Plugin 3.11
- Jenkins Contrast Continuous Application Security Plugin versions prior to 3.11
- Jenkins controllers with the affected plugin installed and enabled
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-24 - Jenkins Security Advisory published for SECURITY-3697
- 2026-06-24 - CVE-2026-57297 published to NVD
- 2026-06-25 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-57297
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a Missing Authorization flaw in the Contrast Continuous Application Security Plugin for Jenkins. The plugin exposes a form validation or connection-test endpoint that fails to enforce administrative permission requirements. Any authenticated user holding the baseline Overall/Read permission can invoke this endpoint.
The endpoint accepts a URL, username, API key, and service key as parameters. The Jenkins controller then opens an HTTP connection to the specified URL and submits the provided credentials. Attackers control all relevant inputs without administrative authorization.
This pattern aligns with [CWE-862] Missing Authorization. It also produces conditions characteristic of Server-Side Request Forgery, since the controller initiates outbound traffic to attacker-specified destinations.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of a permission check on the connection-testing handler. Jenkins plugins are expected to gate sensitive descriptor methods with checks such as Jenkins.ADMINISTER or item-scoped equivalents. The affected handler in versions 3.11 and earlier executes without verifying that the caller holds the required elevated permission.
Attack Vector
An attacker authenticates to Jenkins with any account holding Overall/Read permission. The attacker submits a crafted request to the plugin's connection-test endpoint, supplying a URL pointing to an attacker-controlled server. The attacker also supplies arbitrary username, API key, and service key values.
The Jenkins controller transmits these credentials to the attacker-specified URL. Attackers can use this primitive to capture legitimate API keys submitted by tricked administrators, probe internal network resources reachable from the Jenkins controller, or relay forged credentials to test their validity against external services. See the Jenkins Security Advisory 2026-06-24 for advisory-level technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-57297
Indicators of Compromise
- Outbound HTTP or HTTPS connections from the Jenkins controller to unexpected external hosts originating from the Contrast plugin code path
- Audit log entries showing low-privilege users invoking descriptor or form-validation endpoints associated with the Contrast plugin
- Anomalous credential submissions in Contrast Security access logs from non-administrative Jenkins identities
Detection Strategies
- Review the installed version of the Contrast Continuous Application Security Plugin across all Jenkins controllers and flag versions at or below 3.11
- Inspect Jenkins access logs for requests to plugin descriptor URLs invoked by accounts that lack administrative roles
- Correlate outbound network telemetry from Jenkins controller hosts against expected Contrast Security endpoints
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Jenkins controller HTTP access logs and system logs to a centralized log platform for query and alerting
- Alert on outbound connections from Jenkins build infrastructure to non-allowlisted destinations
- Track plugin inventory changes and version drift across Jenkins controllers as part of routine configuration monitoring
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-57297
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the Contrast Continuous Application Security Plugin to a version later than 3.11 once the maintainer publishes a fixed release
- Restrict Overall/Read permission to trusted users until a patched plugin version is deployed
- Review Jenkins access logs for prior abuse of the affected endpoint by non-administrative accounts
Patch Information
Refer to the Jenkins Security Advisory 2026-06-24 for the authoritative patch status. If no fixed version is listed, treat the plugin as unpatched and apply compensating controls until the maintainer releases an update.
Workarounds
- Disable or uninstall the Contrast Continuous Application Security Plugin on Jenkins controllers that do not require it
- Apply strict authorization strategies such as Matrix Authorization to limit which authenticated users hold Overall/Read
- Place Jenkins controllers behind egress filtering that restricts outbound connections to known Contrast Security endpoints
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
