CVE-2022-45380 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Jenkins JUnit Plugin, specifically in versions 1159.v0b_396e1e07dd and earlier. The vulnerability arises because the plugin converts HTTP(S) URLs found in test report outputs into clickable links without proper sanitization or escaping. This unsafe handling allows an attacker with Item/Configure permissions within Jenkins to inject malicious scripts into the test report output. When other users view these reports, the embedded scripts execute in their browsers under the context of the Jenkins web application, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or other malicious actions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which pertains to improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), user interaction (UI:R), scope changed (S:C), and impacts on confidentiality and integrity (C:L/I:L) but no impact on availability (A:N). No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the published date (November 15, 2022). This vulnerability requires the attacker to have at least Item/Configure permissions, which means the attacker must already have some level of access to the Jenkins environment. The scope change indicates that the vulnerability can affect components beyond the initially vulnerable plugin, potentially impacting the overall Jenkins instance or other plugins. Given Jenkins' widespread use in continuous integration and deployment pipelines, exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution or manipulation of build processes if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-45380 can be significant, especially for those relying heavily on Jenkins for their software development lifecycle. Exploitation could allow attackers with limited permissions to execute malicious scripts within the Jenkins web interface, potentially leading to credential theft, session hijacking, or unauthorized configuration changes. This can compromise the integrity of build pipelines, leading to the injection of malicious code into production software, thereby affecting software supply chain security. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive project information or proprietary code. Although availability is not directly impacted, the indirect consequences of compromised build environments could disrupt development operations. Organizations in sectors with stringent regulatory requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, may face compliance risks and reputational damage if such vulnerabilities are exploited. Additionally, since Jenkins is often integrated with other tools and services, the vulnerability could serve as a pivot point for broader network compromise within European enterprises.

To mitigate CVE-2022-45380 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately update the Jenkins JUnit Plugin to a version that addresses this vulnerability once released by the Jenkins project. If no patch is available, consider temporarily disabling the plugin or restricting its use. 2) Review and tighten Jenkins user permissions, ensuring that only trusted users have Item/Configure permissions, minimizing the risk of malicious input injection. 3) Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers in Jenkins to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts within the web interface. 4) Regularly audit Jenkins logs and test reports for suspicious or unexpected URL content that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block XSS payloads targeting Jenkins interfaces. 6) Educate Jenkins administrators and developers about the risks of stored XSS and safe handling of test report data. 7) Consider isolating Jenkins instances or using containerization to limit the blast radius in case of compromise. 8) Integrate security scanning tools into CI/CD pipelines to detect vulnerable plugin versions and enforce compliance policies.