CVE-2022-45389 is a security vulnerability identified in the Jenkins XP-Dev Plugin version 1.0 and earlier. The core issue stems from a missing permission check that allows unauthenticated attackers to trigger builds of Jenkins jobs linked to attacker-specified repositories. Jenkins is a widely used open-source automation server that facilitates continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. The XP-Dev Plugin integrates with Jenkins to enable builds from external repositories. Due to the lack of proper access control, an attacker can remotely initiate build jobs without any authentication or user interaction. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the system fails to enforce proper authorization checks before allowing sensitive operations. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium severity), with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N, meaning the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required. The impact is limited to integrity, as unauthorized build triggers could lead to the execution of malicious or unintended code in the build environment, potentially compromising the build process or injecting malicious artifacts. However, confidentiality and availability are not directly impacted. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, and no official patches or updates are linked in the provided data, indicating either a recent disclosure or limited exploitation so far. The vulnerability affects all installations using the vulnerable plugin versions, regardless of the underlying Jenkins version or environment configuration, as long as the plugin is active and exposed to network access. Attackers could leverage this flaw to manipulate CI/CD workflows, potentially undermining software supply chain integrity by injecting malicious code or causing build disruptions.

For European organizations, the vulnerability poses a risk to the integrity of software development pipelines, especially for enterprises relying on Jenkins for automated builds and deployments. Unauthorized build triggers could lead to the introduction of malicious code, backdoors, or compromised binaries in production software, which is particularly critical for sectors with stringent regulatory requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. The risk is amplified in organizations with publicly accessible Jenkins instances or insufficient network segmentation. While the vulnerability does not directly affect confidentiality or availability, the integrity compromise could cascade into broader security incidents, including supply chain attacks or reputational damage. Given the widespread adoption of Jenkins in European IT environments, especially in technology-driven economies and industries with mature DevOps practices, the threat could impact a significant number of organizations if unmitigated. Additionally, the lack of authentication requirement lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the risk from opportunistic attackers or automated scanning tools. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild suggests limited active exploitation at present, providing a window for remediation.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting network access to Jenkins instances running the XP-Dev Plugin, ideally limiting exposure to trusted internal networks or VPNs to prevent unauthorized external access. 2. Disable or uninstall the XP-Dev Plugin if it is not essential to the build process, thereby eliminating the attack surface. 3. Implement strict access control policies on Jenkins, including role-based access control (RBAC) and authentication enforcement, to reduce the risk of unauthorized actions. 4. Monitor Jenkins logs for unusual build triggers or repository references that do not align with normal operations, enabling early detection of exploitation attempts. 5. Since no official patches are linked, organizations should track Jenkins project updates closely and apply any forthcoming security patches promptly. 6. Employ network-level protections such as web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin endpoints. 7. Conduct internal audits of CI/CD pipelines to verify the integrity of build jobs and artifacts, ensuring no unauthorized modifications have occurred. 8. Educate DevOps and security teams about this vulnerability to raise awareness and encourage proactive security hygiene around CI/CD tools.