Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessLocate exposed PowerJob Server
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DeliveryReconstruct predictable HS256 key
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ExploitForge admin JWT
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ExecutionAuthenticate to console/OpenAPI
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PersistCreate/trigger malicious job
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ImpactExecute arbitrary code on worker
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A04:2025 - Cryptographic Failures
ASVS 5.0
V11 - Cryptography Key management, no hard-coded keys
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires that the PowerJob Server run with its default/predictable HS256 JWT signing key (as generated by DefaultSecretProvider rather than a per-install random secret) and that the server's console or OpenAPI endpoint be network-reachable by the attacker. No valid credentials, user interaction, or prior authentication are needed because the predictable key lets the attacker forge admin tokens directly (PR:N, UI:N, AC:L). What limits exploitation: an operator who has already configured a strong custom JWT secret is not vulnerable to trivial forgery, and instances confined to a trusted internal network sharply reduce attacker reach. |
| Impact | The provided CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N, 9.1) indicates a network-reachable, low-complexity, unauthenticated attack - consistent with token forgery against an exposed server. However, A:N understates the stated impact: if the flaw yields arbitrary code execution, availability should be High (my independent assessment is 9.8 with A:H). No EPSS or KEV data was supplied, so this is not confirmed as actively exploited; treat it as high-priority-but-not-confirmed-widespread. A publicly available PoC gist raises real exploitation likelihood for internet-exposed instances. The main mitigating factor is exposure: PowerJob servers are typically internal scheduling infrastructure, so risk concentrates on instances reachable from untrusted networks. Net: a genuinely severe, easily automatable auth-bypass-to-RCE where the primary open question is exposure and patch availability, not exploitability. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker locates an internet-exposed PowerJob Server, reconstructs the predictable HS256 signing key from the default secret provider, and forges a valid admin JWT - no credentials needed. Using the forged token they authenticate to the console/OpenAPI and create or trigger a job that executes an attacker-supplied script/command on a worker, achieving remote code execution. A public PoC gist demonstrates the token-forgery step. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 04, 2026
Remote code execution in PowerJob Server 5.1.2 (and likely earlier releases) stems from a predictable/hardcoded HS256 signing key used for the server's JWT authentication, letting an unauthenticated remote attacker forge valid admin session tokens and drive PowerJob's job-execution features to run arbitrary code. PowerJob is an open-source distributed task-scheduling framework, and because the secret is derived by a default provider rather than randomly generated, any exposed instance is trivially impersonatable. Publicly available exploit code exists (a proof-of-concept gist), though there is no CISA KEV listing or confirmed in-the-wild exploitation at time of analysis.
RemediationAI
No vendor-released patch version is identified at time of analysis (references point to master-branch source files and a PoC, not a tagged fixed release), so verify the latest PowerJob release for a fix before deploying. As the primary compensating control, override the default JWT secret with a strong, per-deployment random key so tokens can no longer be forged - audit DefaultSecretProvider/JwtServiceImpl configuration and any secret set via application properties, and rotate it (this invalidates existing sessions, a minor operational side effect). Additionally, remove PowerJob Server from any untrusted or internet-facing network and restrict its console/OpenAPI ports to a management VLAN or via reverse-proxy allowlisting (side effect: remote operators need VPN/jump-host access), and place authentication behind an external gateway that does not rely on the vulnerable HS256 key. Monitor for the fixed version at https://github.com/PowerJob/PowerJob and upgrade once released.
Affected VersionsENISA
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Technical ContextAI · show details
PowerJob is a Java-based distributed scheduling/workflow framework whose server component (powerjob-server-auth) issues HS256 JSON Web Tokens for authenticating console and API sessions. The referenced source (DefaultSecretProvider.java and JwtServiceImpl.java) shows the symmetric HMAC signing key is produced by a default secret provider rather than a per-deployment random value, making it predictable across installations. The root cause is a use of a hard-coded/predictable cryptographic key (CWE-321/CWE-798 class; the input CWE is N/A), which collapses the integrity guarantee of HS256: knowing or reconstructing the key lets an attacker mint tokens that pass server-side signature verification. Because PowerJob's authenticated surface includes creating and dispatching jobs/scripts to workers, forging an admin token escalates directly to arbitrary code execution. The CPE (cpe:2.3:a:n/a:n/a:*) is a non-informative placeholder and does not name the true product.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Predictable key enables unauthenticated remote token forgery (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) leading to RCE, so C/I/A all High - A:H corrects the input's A:N.
Primary rating from Vendor (mitre).
CVSS VectorVendor: mitre
DescriptionCVE.org
PowerJob Server version 5.1.2 (and likely earlier) uses a predictable JWT signing key for HS256-based authentication. This allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code.
Executive ViewAI
PowerJob Server 5.1.2 and earlier versions contain a critical vulnerability allowing unauthenticated attackers to forge administrator session tokens and execute arbitrary code by exploiting a hardcoded JWT signing key. Organizations using this open-source distributed task-scheduling framework face immediate risk of unauthorized code execution, data pipeline compromise, and potential disruption to critical batch processing and automation workflows.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: (1) Restrict PowerJob API network access to internal subnets via firewall rules; (2) enable centralized audit logging and monitor for anomalous admin token creation and job submissions; (3) if configurable, rotate the JWT signing key to a strong randomly-generated value to prevent token forgery; (4) deploy WAF rules on any public-facing instances to detect and block JWT token-based attacks; (5) temporarily disable PowerJob if non-critical to operations; (6) monitor vendor advisories and upgrade immediately once patched versions (5.1.3+) are released.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
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What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
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EPSS
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