CVE-2022-45395 is a critical vulnerability affecting the Jenkins CCCC Plugin version 0.6 and earlier. The vulnerability arises because the plugin does not properly configure its XML parser to prevent XML External Entity (XXE) attacks. XXE is a type of attack against an application that parses XML input, where an attacker can exploit the XML parser's ability to process external entities. This can lead to serious security issues such as disclosure of confidential data, server-side request forgery (SSRF), denial of service (DoS), and potentially remote code execution depending on the context. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-611, which relates to improper restriction of XML external entity references. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 9.8, indicating a critical severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction needed, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the high severity score and the nature of the vulnerability make it a significant risk for Jenkins users employing the CCCC Plugin. Jenkins is widely used for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, and a compromised Jenkins server can lead to widespread impact on software development and deployment processes.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial. Jenkins is a popular automation server used extensively across various industries including finance, manufacturing, telecommunications, and government sectors in Europe. Exploitation of this XXE vulnerability could allow attackers to access sensitive build and deployment data, internal network resources, or disrupt CI/CD pipelines, potentially delaying software releases and impacting business operations. Confidentiality breaches could expose proprietary source code or credentials, while integrity and availability impacts could lead to unauthorized code changes or denial of service in critical development infrastructure. Given the criticality of software supply chains, especially in regulated sectors such as finance and healthcare, successful exploitation could also result in compliance violations and reputational damage. The lack of required authentication and user interaction increases the risk of remote exploitation, making it easier for attackers to target vulnerable Jenkins instances exposed to the internet or accessible within corporate networks.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately update the Jenkins CCCC Plugin to a version that properly disables XML external entity processing or apply any vendor-provided patches once available. In the absence of an official patch, organizations should consider disabling or removing the CCCC Plugin if it is not essential. Network-level controls should be implemented to restrict access to Jenkins servers, limiting exposure to trusted internal networks and VPNs only. Additionally, organizations should enable strict XML parser configurations that disable external entity resolution in all plugins and custom scripts. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning of Jenkins instances should be conducted to detect vulnerable plugin versions. Monitoring Jenkins logs for unusual XML parsing errors or suspicious activity can help identify attempted exploitation. Finally, organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege for Jenkins service accounts and isolate build environments to minimize potential damage from a compromised Jenkins server.