CVE-2022-41229 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the Jenkins NS-ND Integration Performance Publisher Plugin, specifically in version 4.8.0.134 and earlier. This plugin integrates NetStorm/NetCloud performance testing tools with Jenkins, a widely used automation server for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to properly escape configuration options within the 'Execute NetStorm/NetCloud Test' build step. As a result, an attacker with Item/Configure permissions can inject malicious scripts that are stored and later executed in the context of users viewing the configuration. This stored XSS can lead to the execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser, potentially allowing session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions within Jenkins. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have authenticated access with at least Item/Configure permissions, which is a moderate privilege level in Jenkins. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges, and user interaction. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No known exploits in the wild have been reported to date, and no official patches are linked in the provided data. The underlying weakness is CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), a common web security flaw. Given Jenkins' role in automating software builds and deployments, exploitation could disrupt CI/CD pipelines or compromise sensitive build data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the integrity and confidentiality of their CI/CD environments. Jenkins is widely adopted across industries in Europe, including finance, manufacturing, and technology sectors, where automated build and deployment pipelines are critical. An attacker exploiting this XSS flaw could execute malicious scripts to hijack sessions of Jenkins users with configuration privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized changes in build configurations or exposure of sensitive build parameters and credentials stored in Jenkins. This could result in compromised software supply chains, insertion of malicious code into builds, or disruption of automated deployment processes. While the vulnerability does not directly impact availability, the indirect effects of compromised build integrity could be severe, including reputational damage and regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if sensitive data is exposed. The requirement for authenticated access limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with multiple users or insufficient access controls. European organizations with large, distributed development teams or those using Jenkins in multi-tenant environments should be particularly cautious.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should first verify if they use the Jenkins NS-ND Integration Performance Publisher Plugin version 4.8.0.134 or earlier. If so, they should seek updates or patches from the Jenkins plugin maintainers or consider upgrading to a fixed version once available. In the absence of an official patch, organizations can implement the following practical measures: 1) Restrict Item/Configure permissions strictly to trusted users only, minimizing the number of users who can configure builds. 2) Implement strong authentication and session management controls to reduce the risk of compromised accounts. 3) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting Jenkins interfaces. 4) Conduct regular security audits and code reviews of Jenkins configurations and plugins to identify and remediate insecure settings. 5) Educate Jenkins users about the risks of XSS and safe handling of configuration inputs. 6) Monitor Jenkins logs for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 7) Consider isolating Jenkins instances or using containerization to limit the blast radius of potential attacks. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control tightening, monitoring, and compensating controls until a patch is applied.