CVE-2022-41237 is a critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting the Jenkins DotCi Plugin version 2.40.00 and earlier. The root cause lies in the plugin's use of a YAML parser that is improperly configured, allowing the instantiation of arbitrary types during YAML deserialization. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data). An attacker can exploit this flaw by submitting crafted YAML input to the plugin, which then deserializes the input without restrictions, enabling execution of arbitrary code on the Jenkins server. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8, reflecting its critical severity with network attack vector, no required privileges or user interaction, and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Jenkins is a widely used open-source automation server for continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), and the DotCi plugin integrates with CI pipelines. Exploitation could allow attackers to take full control of the Jenkins server, potentially leading to compromise of build pipelines, source code, credentials, and downstream systems. Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, the high severity and ease of exploitation make this a significant threat to organizations using Jenkins with the vulnerable plugin.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be severe. Jenkins is commonly used in software development and DevOps environments across Europe, including in critical infrastructure, financial services, manufacturing, and government sectors. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive source code repositories, injection of malicious code into software builds, and disruption of automated deployment processes. This can result in intellectual property theft, supply chain compromise, service outages, and reputational damage. Given the criticality of CI/CD pipelines in modern software delivery, exploitation could cascade into widespread operational impacts. Additionally, attackers gaining control over Jenkins servers may pivot to other internal systems, increasing the scope of compromise. The vulnerability's network accessibility and lack of required authentication increase the risk of remote attacks from external threat actors targeting European organizations.

Immediate mitigation steps include upgrading the Jenkins DotCi Plugin to a version where the YAML parser is properly configured to prevent arbitrary type instantiation. If an official patched version is not yet available, organizations should consider disabling or uninstalling the DotCi plugin temporarily to eliminate exposure. Network-level controls such as restricting access to Jenkins servers to trusted IP ranges and enforcing strong authentication and authorization policies can reduce attack surface. Monitoring Jenkins logs for suspicious YAML parsing activity and anomalous behavior is recommended. Implementing runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review and harden their CI/CD pipeline security posture, including secrets management and build artifact integrity verification, to limit damage in case of compromise. Regular vulnerability scanning and patch management processes should be enhanced to promptly address such critical vulnerabilities.