CVE-2022-41575 is a high-severity credential-exposure vulnerability affecting the support-bundle mechanism in Gradle Enterprise versions 2022.3 through 2022.3.3. Gradle Enterprise is a build tool enhancement platform widely used in software development environments to improve build performance and diagnostics. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to access a subset of application data, including cleartext credentials, without requiring authentication or user interaction. This occurs because the support-bundle mechanism, which is designed to collect diagnostic data for troubleshooting, inadvertently exposes sensitive information. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 reflects the vulnerability's network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-522, which relates to insufficiently protected credentials. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the exposure of cleartext credentials poses a significant risk for unauthorized access and lateral movement within affected environments. The issue was addressed in Gradle Enterprise version 2022.3.3, and users are strongly advised to upgrade to this or later versions to mitigate the risk.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk, especially for enterprises relying on Gradle Enterprise for their software development lifecycle. Exposure of cleartext credentials can lead to unauthorized access to internal systems, source code repositories, and potentially sensitive intellectual property. This can result in data breaches, intellectual property theft, and disruption of development operations. Given the critical role of software development in sectors such as finance, automotive, telecommunications, and government within Europe, exploitation could have cascading effects on business continuity and regulatory compliance, including GDPR implications due to potential data exposure. The vulnerability’s ease of exploitation without authentication increases the threat level, making it attractive for threat actors targeting European organizations with valuable software assets or sensitive data.

European organizations should immediately verify their Gradle Enterprise versions and upgrade to version 2022.3.3 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. In addition to patching, organizations should audit and rotate any credentials that may have been exposed through the support-bundle mechanism. Restrict network access to Gradle Enterprise instances, limiting exposure to trusted internal networks or VPNs. Implement strict access controls and monitoring around build infrastructure to detect unusual access patterns. Consider disabling or tightly controlling the support-bundle feature if it is not essential. Regularly review and update credential management policies to ensure credentials are stored and transmitted securely, employing encryption and secrets management solutions. Finally, conduct security awareness training for development and operations teams to recognize and respond to potential credential exposure incidents.