CVE-2022-45385 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Jenkins CloudBees Docker Hub/Registry Notification Plugin versions 2.6.2 and earlier. The core issue is a missing permission check that allows unauthenticated attackers to trigger builds of Jenkins jobs linked to repositories specified by the attacker. Jenkins is a widely used open-source automation server that facilitates continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. The affected plugin integrates Docker Hub or Docker Registry notifications with Jenkins, enabling automated build triggers when container images are updated. Due to the lack of proper permission validation, an attacker can remotely invoke build jobs without authentication or authorization, potentially causing unauthorized code execution or resource consumption. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the system fails to enforce proper access control. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high impact on integrity with no impact on confidentiality or availability. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N), making exploitation relatively straightforward. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to Jenkins' widespread use in software development environments and the critical role of CI/CD pipelines in modern software delivery.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can have serious consequences. Jenkins is extensively used across various industries including finance, manufacturing, telecommunications, and government agencies in Europe. An attacker exploiting this flaw could trigger unauthorized builds, potentially injecting malicious code into the software supply chain or disrupting development workflows. This could lead to integrity breaches where compromised builds propagate vulnerable or malicious software to production environments. Additionally, unauthorized build triggers could consume significant computational resources, causing denial of service conditions within CI/CD infrastructure. The lack of authentication requirement increases the risk of automated or large-scale exploitation attempts. Given the strategic importance of software integrity and supply chain security in Europe, especially under regulatory frameworks like the EU Cybersecurity Act and NIS Directive, this vulnerability could undermine trust in automated build systems and lead to compliance issues if exploited.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately update the Jenkins CloudBees Docker Hub/Registry Notification Plugin to a version that includes the necessary permission checks once available. Until a patch is released, organizations should restrict network access to Jenkins instances, limiting exposure to trusted internal networks and VPNs only. Implementing strict firewall rules to block unauthenticated external access to Jenkins endpoints related to the plugin is critical. Additionally, organizations should audit existing Jenkins job configurations to identify any that are triggered by Docker Hub/Registry notifications and apply manual access controls or disable such triggers temporarily. Monitoring Jenkins logs for unusual build triggers originating from unauthenticated sources can help detect exploitation attempts. Employing role-based access control (RBAC) and enforcing authentication on all Jenkins endpoints reduces the attack surface. Finally, integrating Jenkins with centralized security monitoring and incident response workflows will facilitate rapid detection and remediation of any exploitation.