CVE-2022-43421 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the Jenkins Tuleap Git Branch Source Plugin version 3.2.4 and earlier. The vulnerability arises from a missing permission check that allows unauthenticated attackers to trigger Tuleap projects if the configured repository matches a value specified by the attacker. Jenkins is a widely used open-source automation server for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), and the Tuleap Git Branch Source Plugin integrates Jenkins with Tuleap repositories to automate build and deployment workflows. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the plugin fails to properly verify whether the user has the necessary permissions before allowing the triggering of certain project actions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity level. The vector indicates that the attack can be performed remotely (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts integrity (I:L) but not confidentiality or availability. Exploiting this vulnerability would allow an unauthenticated attacker to initiate builds or other automated processes in Jenkins tied to specific Tuleap repositories, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution or manipulation of build pipelines. However, there is no indication that this vulnerability allows direct code execution or data exfiltration, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The lack of authentication requirement and remote exploitability make this vulnerability noteworthy, especially in environments where Jenkins is exposed to untrusted networks or the internet. The absence of patch links suggests that users should verify plugin updates or apply workarounds to mitigate the risk.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-43421 depends on the extent of Jenkins usage with the Tuleap Git Branch Source Plugin in their CI/CD pipelines. Unauthorized triggering of builds could disrupt development workflows, lead to the execution of unintended or malicious code in the build environment, and potentially compromise the integrity of software releases. This could result in delays, loss of trust in software integrity, or indirect exposure to further attacks if the build environment is leveraged as a pivot point. Organizations in sectors with stringent software supply chain security requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, may face compliance risks or reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited. However, since the vulnerability does not directly impact confidentiality or availability, the immediate risk to sensitive data or system uptime is limited. The lack of known exploits reduces the urgency but does not eliminate the risk, especially for organizations with publicly accessible Jenkins instances or weak network segmentation.

European organizations should take specific steps to mitigate CVE-2022-43421 beyond generic advice: 1) Immediately audit Jenkins instances to identify usage of the Tuleap Git Branch Source Plugin and determine the plugin version. 2) Restrict network access to Jenkins servers, ensuring they are not exposed to untrusted networks or the internet. Use firewalls and VPNs to limit access to trusted users only. 3) Implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms on Jenkins, even if the plugin itself lacks permission checks, to reduce the attack surface. 4) Monitor Jenkins logs for unusual triggering of builds or projects, especially those linked to Tuleap repositories, to detect potential exploitation attempts. 5) Engage with the Jenkins community or vendor to obtain patches or updates addressing this vulnerability; if unavailable, consider disabling or removing the affected plugin until a fix is released. 6) Review and harden CI/CD pipeline security policies, including validating build triggers and repository configurations to prevent unauthorized manipulations. 7) Conduct internal security awareness training for DevOps teams about the risks of plugin vulnerabilities and the importance of timely updates.