CVE-2022-41235 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the Jenkins WildFly Deployer Plugin version 1.0.2 and earlier. This plugin is used within Jenkins, a widely adopted open-source automation server, to deploy applications to WildFly application servers. The vulnerability arises because the plugin's agent processes can read arbitrary files on the Jenkins controller's file system without requiring any authentication or user interaction. Specifically, this flaw allows an attacker with network access to the Jenkins environment to remotely read files on the controller node, potentially exposing sensitive information such as credentials, configuration files, or source code. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating that the plugin fails to enforce proper access restrictions on file system operations initiated by agent processes. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity level, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The impact is limited to confidentiality (C:L) with no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the published date (September 21, 2022), and no official patches or mitigation links were provided in the source data. This vulnerability is significant because Jenkins controllers often hold critical build and deployment credentials and configurations, and unauthorized file read access could lead to further compromise if sensitive data is exposed. Organizations using Jenkins with the WildFly Deployer Plugin should assess their exposure and remediate accordingly.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-41235 can be considerable, especially for those relying on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment pipelines involving WildFly application servers. Unauthorized file read access on the Jenkins controller can lead to leakage of sensitive information such as private keys, API tokens, or proprietary source code. This exposure could facilitate subsequent attacks, including privilege escalation, lateral movement, or intellectual property theft. Given the critical role of Jenkins in software development lifecycles, exploitation could disrupt development operations and compromise the confidentiality of business-critical data. The vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, but the confidentiality breach alone can have regulatory and reputational consequences, particularly under the GDPR framework prevalent in Europe. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, which often use Jenkins for automated deployments, may face increased risk. Additionally, the lack of authentication and user interaction requirements means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely and stealthily if network access to Jenkins is not properly restricted.

To mitigate CVE-2022-41235, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately audit Jenkins instances to identify the presence and version of the WildFly Deployer Plugin. 2) Restrict network access to Jenkins controllers, ensuring that only trusted internal IPs or VPN users can reach the Jenkins interface and agent communication ports. 3) Implement strict access controls and segmentation to isolate Jenkins controllers from untrusted networks. 4) Monitor Jenkins logs and network traffic for unusual file read requests or agent activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) If possible, upgrade the WildFly Deployer Plugin to a version that addresses this vulnerability once available; if no patch exists, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin until a fix is released. 6) Employ Jenkins security best practices such as enabling Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), using credentials binding plugins securely, and regularly rotating secrets stored in Jenkins. 7) Conduct internal penetration testing focusing on Jenkins environments to detect potential exploitation paths. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on network-level restrictions, plugin management, and active monitoring tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.