CVE-2022-29184 is a command injection vulnerability affecting GoCD, a continuous delivery server widely used for automating software deployment pipelines. The vulnerability exists in GoCD versions prior to 22.1.0 and arises from improper neutralization of special elements in command arguments related to Mercurial (hg) materials and pipeline configuration repositories. Specifically, authenticated users with permissions to create or edit pipeline materials or pipeline configuration repositories can exploit this flaw by configuring a malicious branch name that leverages Mercurial hooks or aliases. This malicious branch name is crafted to inject arbitrary commands, which are then executed on the GoCD server. The attack vector requires the attacker to have existing administrative or configuration permissions within GoCD, such as the ability to create or modify hg-based configuration repositories or pipelines. Additionally, if the organization uses "pipelines-as-code" with external configuration repositories, an attacker could commit malicious configurations that are automatically parsed and executed by the GoCD server. The root cause is the failure to properly sanitize or neutralize special characters and delimiters in command arguments, leading to CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command) and CWE-88 (Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command Argument). The vulnerability allows remote code execution (RCE) on the GoCD server, potentially compromising the server's confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The issue is fixed in GoCD version 22.1.0. As a mitigation, users who do not rely on Mercurial materials can remove the hg binary from the GoCD server or Docker image to prevent exploitation. There are no known exploits in the wild reported to date.

For European organizations using GoCD versions prior to 22.1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially in environments where Mercurial is used for pipeline materials or configuration repositories. Successful exploitation can lead to remote code execution on the GoCD server, which typically has elevated privileges and access to critical deployment infrastructure. This can result in unauthorized code execution, data leakage, pipeline sabotage, or lateral movement within the network. The impact extends to the integrity of software delivery pipelines, potentially allowing attackers to inject malicious code into production releases. Confidentiality of sensitive build and deployment data may also be compromised. Availability of the continuous delivery service could be disrupted, affecting business operations and development workflows. Given that exploitation requires authenticated access with configuration permissions, insider threats or compromised credentials are primary risk factors. However, in large organizations with multiple administrators or automated systems managing pipelines, the attack surface is non-trivial. The risk is heightened in sectors with stringent regulatory requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, where pipeline integrity and security are paramount.

1. Upgrade GoCD to version 22.1.0 or later immediately to apply the official fix addressing this vulnerability. 2. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, and Mercurial materials are not in use, remove or uninstall the Mercurial (hg) binary from the GoCD server or Docker images to eliminate the attack vector. 3. Review and restrict permissions within GoCD to minimize the number of users who can create or edit pipeline materials and configuration repositories, enforcing the principle of least privilege. 4. Implement strong authentication mechanisms and monitor for unusual configuration changes or commits to pipelines-as-code repositories. 5. Conduct regular audits of pipeline configurations and repository branches to detect suspicious or malformed branch names that could indicate attempted exploitation. 6. Employ network segmentation and host-based controls to limit the impact of potential code execution on the GoCD server. 7. Integrate runtime monitoring and endpoint detection on GoCD servers to detect anomalous command executions or process behaviors. 8. Educate administrators and DevOps teams about the risks of command injection and the importance of secure pipeline configuration practices.