CVE-2022-41226 is a critical vulnerability identified in the Jenkins Compuware Common Configuration Plugin version 1.0.14 and earlier. The core issue stems from the plugin's failure to properly configure its XML parser to prevent XML External Entity (XXE) attacks. XXE vulnerabilities occur when an XML parser processes external entities within XML input, potentially allowing attackers to read arbitrary files, perform server-side request forgery (SSRF), or cause denial of service (DoS) conditions. In this case, the Jenkins plugin does not disable or restrict external entity processing, which can be exploited remotely without authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity level, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning an attacker can potentially exfiltrate sensitive data, alter configurations, or disrupt Jenkins operations. Jenkins is a widely used open-source automation server for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, and plugins like the Compuware Common Configuration Plugin extend its functionality. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because Jenkins servers are often exposed to internal networks or even the internet, and the plugin’s XML parsing flaw can be exploited remotely to compromise the build environment or gain further access to connected systems. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the critical nature and ease of exploitation make this a high-priority issue for organizations using Jenkins with this plugin. No patch links were provided, so remediation may require vendor updates or configuration changes to disable external entity processing in the XML parser.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the integrity and confidentiality of software development pipelines. Compromise of Jenkins servers can lead to unauthorized access to source code, build artifacts, and deployment credentials, potentially enabling supply chain attacks or insertion of malicious code into production software. The availability impact could disrupt continuous integration and deployment workflows, causing operational delays. Given the widespread adoption of Jenkins in European enterprises, especially in sectors like finance, manufacturing, and technology, exploitation could have cascading effects on business continuity and regulatory compliance, including GDPR implications if personal data is exposed. The vulnerability’s network accessibility and lack of authentication requirements increase the risk of remote exploitation by threat actors targeting European infrastructure or supply chains. Organizations relying on automated build and deployment processes must consider this vulnerability a critical threat to their software development lifecycle security.

Immediate mitigation should focus on disabling or restricting XML external entity processing within the Jenkins Compuware Common Configuration Plugin’s XML parser configuration, if possible via plugin or Jenkins settings. Organizations should monitor Jenkins plugin updates and apply patches as soon as they become available from the Jenkins project or plugin maintainers. In the absence of an official patch, consider removing or disabling the vulnerable plugin to eliminate the attack surface. Network-level controls such as restricting access to Jenkins servers to trusted internal IP ranges and implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block XXE payloads can reduce exposure. Regularly audit Jenkins configurations and logs for suspicious XML parsing activity. Employ segmentation and least privilege principles to limit the impact of a compromised Jenkins server. Additionally, integrating runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can help detect exploitation attempts. Finally, educate DevOps and security teams about the risks of XXE vulnerabilities and secure coding practices for XML processing.