CVE-2022-46682 is a critical vulnerability identified in the Jenkins Plot Plugin version 2.1.11 and earlier. The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the plugin's failure to properly configure its XML parser to prevent XML External Entity (XXE) attacks. XXE vulnerabilities occur when an XML parser processes external entity references within XML input, potentially allowing an attacker to read arbitrary files, perform server-side request forgery (SSRF), or cause denial of service (DoS) conditions. In this case, the Jenkins Plot Plugin does not disable or restrict external entity processing, leaving it susceptible to maliciously crafted XML payloads. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack can be executed remotely over the network without any privileges or user interaction, and it impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a high degree. Jenkins is a widely used open-source automation server primarily employed for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. The Plot Plugin is used to visualize data trends in Jenkins jobs, making it a common component in many Jenkins installations. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker to read sensitive files on the Jenkins server, manipulate job data, or disrupt CI/CD processes, potentially leading to broader compromise of development and deployment environments. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, the ease of exploitation and critical impact make this vulnerability a significant risk for Jenkins users. No official patch links were provided in the source information, but mitigation would typically involve updating the plugin to a version that properly configures the XML parser or applying configuration changes to disable external entity processing.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-46682 can be substantial, especially for those relying heavily on Jenkins for software development and deployment automation. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive source code, credentials, or configuration files, compromising intellectual property and operational security. Integrity of CI/CD pipelines could be undermined, allowing attackers to inject malicious code or disrupt build processes, which may result in the deployment of compromised software to production environments. Availability may also be affected if the vulnerability is leveraged to cause denial of service, interrupting critical development workflows. Given the central role of Jenkins in DevOps practices, exploitation could cascade into broader operational disruptions. European organizations in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, and government, which often have stringent compliance requirements and rely on secure software supply chains, are particularly at risk. The vulnerability also poses a risk to cloud-based Jenkins instances, which are common in Europe, potentially exposing multi-tenant environments to attacks. The lack of required authentication and user interaction further increases the threat, as attackers can remotely exploit vulnerable Jenkins servers exposed to the internet or accessible within corporate networks.

1. Immediate upgrade: Organizations should promptly update the Jenkins Plot Plugin to the latest version where the XML parser is correctly configured to prevent XXE attacks. If an official patched version is not yet available, consider disabling or uninstalling the Plot Plugin temporarily. 2. XML parser hardening: Review and configure XML parsers used by Jenkins plugins to disable external entity processing (e.g., setting secure processing features or using safer XML parsing libraries). 3. Network segmentation: Restrict network access to Jenkins servers, limiting exposure to trusted internal networks and VPNs only, to reduce the attack surface. 4. Input validation: Implement additional validation or sanitization of XML inputs where possible to detect and block malicious payloads. 5. Monitoring and detection: Deploy monitoring tools to detect unusual XML parsing activity or anomalous requests targeting Jenkins endpoints. 6. Access controls: Enforce strict access controls and authentication mechanisms on Jenkins instances to minimize unauthorized access, even though this vulnerability does not require authentication. 7. Incident response readiness: Prepare incident response plans specifically for CI/CD pipeline compromises, including forensic analysis of Jenkins logs and build artifacts. 8. Vendor communication: Stay informed through Jenkins security advisories and community channels for official patches and guidance.