Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw can let someone sign in to Jenkins as another user with any password, but only under a specific configuration: Active Directory Plugin 2.19 or earlier using Windows/ADSI mode with the optional cache. For organizations using Jenkins for builds or deployments, this could become a serious access-control failure.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for Jenkins instances tied to production builds, deployments, secrets, or administrative automation. The business risk is unauthorized access to software delivery systems, not just ordinary application login failure.
Technical view
CVE-2020-2301 affects Jenkins Active Directory Plugin 2.19 and earlier. In Windows/ADSI mode, while a user's successful authentication remains in the optional cache, an attacker can authenticate as that user using any password. The supplied sources do not provide CVSS, CWE, or complete fixed-version details.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Jenkins controllers using the Active Directory Plugin 2.19 or earlier with Windows/ADSI mode and the optional authentication cache enabled.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. The issue is still high impact because successful abuse could impersonate Jenkins users, including privileged administrators, while cache conditions apply.
Researcher notes
The provided evidence establishes the affected plugin, version boundary, and vulnerable condition. It does not provide CVSS scoring, CWE mapping, proof of exploitation, or full remediation details. Avoid assuming broader Jenkins or Active Directory exposure without configuration evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Check Jenkins advisory SECURITY-2123 for the vendor-supported fixed version and upgrade path.
- Inventory Jenkins Active Directory Plugin versions across all controllers.
- Review whether Windows/ADSI mode and the optional cache are enabled.
- Reduce exposure of Jenkins login surfaces to trusted networks where feasible.
- Monitor Jenkins authentication and administrator activity for unexpected account use.
Validation and detection
- Confirm each Jenkins controller's Active Directory Plugin version.
- Inspect plugin configuration for Windows/ADSI mode and optional cache usage.
- Review authentication logs for unexpected successful logins to privileged accounts.
- Verify remediation against the Jenkins SECURITY-2123 advisory, not inferred package names.
- Document affected controllers and remediation status for audit tracking.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Credential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-2301 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.jenkins.io/security/advisory/2020-11-04/#SECURITY-2123CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.