CVE-2022-45400 is a critical vulnerability identified in the Jenkins JAPEX Plugin version 1.7 and earlier. The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper configuration of the XML parser used by the plugin, which fails to prevent XML External Entity (XXE) attacks. XXE vulnerabilities arise when XML input containing a reference to an external entity is processed by a weakly configured XML parser, allowing attackers to interfere with the processing of XML data. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential data, server-side request forgery (SSRF), denial of service (DoS), and potentially remote code execution depending on the environment and the XML parser's capabilities. In this case, the vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8, indicating critical severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The Jenkins JAPEX Plugin is used within Jenkins CI/CD environments to run performance tests using the JAPEX framework. Since Jenkins is widely used for continuous integration and deployment pipelines, exploitation of this vulnerability could allow attackers to extract sensitive build or environment information, disrupt build processes, or pivot further into internal networks. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the critical nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference). No patch links are provided in the data, indicating that users must monitor Jenkins advisories for updates or apply mitigations manually.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-45400 can be substantial, especially for those relying heavily on Jenkins for software development and deployment. Exploitation could lead to leakage of sensitive corporate data, including proprietary source code, credentials, or configuration files. This could facilitate further attacks such as lateral movement within networks or supply chain compromises. The disruption of CI/CD pipelines could delay software releases, impacting business operations and competitiveness. Given the criticality of the vulnerability and the fact that it requires no authentication or user interaction, attackers can remotely exploit vulnerable Jenkins instances exposed to the internet or accessible within internal networks. This poses a significant risk to industries with stringent data protection requirements under GDPR, such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors prevalent in Europe. Additionally, the integrity and availability of software build processes could be compromised, affecting the trustworthiness of deployed applications and services.

European organizations should take immediate steps to mitigate this vulnerability. First, they should identify all Jenkins instances using the JAPEX Plugin version 1.7 or earlier and restrict their network exposure, ideally isolating them from public internet access. Until an official patch is released, organizations can mitigate the risk by disabling the JAPEX Plugin if it is not essential or by configuring XML parsers to disable external entity processing if possible through plugin or Jenkins configuration. Monitoring Jenkins logs for suspicious XML processing activities and unusual network requests can help detect exploitation attempts. Implementing strict access controls and network segmentation around Jenkins servers will limit attacker movement. Organizations should subscribe to Jenkins security advisories to promptly apply patches once available. Additionally, integrating runtime application self-protection (RASP) or web application firewalls (WAF) that can detect and block XXE payloads may provide an additional layer of defense. Finally, conducting internal security assessments and penetration tests focusing on CI/CD infrastructure can help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities proactively.