CVE-2025-53651 affects the Jenkins HTML Publisher Plugin, specifically versions 425 and earlier. The vulnerability arises because the plugin logs absolute paths of files archived during the 'Publish HTML reports' post-build step into the build logs. These logs are typically accessible to users with some level of access to the Jenkins environment. The exposure of absolute file paths constitutes an information disclosure vulnerability categorized under CWE-36 (Absolute Path Traversal). Although the vulnerability does not directly allow remote code execution or privilege escalation, it leaks details about the Jenkins controller's file system layout, which can be leveraged by attackers for further exploitation, such as crafting targeted attacks or identifying sensitive files and directories. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.3 (medium severity), with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability rated as low (C:L/I:L/A:L). No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The vulnerability highlights the importance of controlling access to build logs and minimizing sensitive information exposure in CI/CD pipelines.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information about the Jenkins controller's file system, which may include directory structures, file names, and potentially sensitive configuration or credential files if present in the logged paths. This information can facilitate reconnaissance activities by attackers, increasing the risk of subsequent targeted attacks such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. Organizations relying heavily on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment, especially those in regulated industries or handling sensitive data, may face increased risk to their development infrastructure. Although the vulnerability itself does not allow direct system compromise, the information leakage can undermine security postures and aid attackers in crafting more effective exploits. The lack of patches means organizations must rely on mitigating controls until an official fix is released.

European organizations should immediately review and restrict access permissions to Jenkins build logs to ensure only trusted users can view them. Implement role-based access control (RBAC) within Jenkins to limit who can view build logs containing sensitive path information. Consider disabling or limiting the use of the HTML Publisher Plugin until a patch is available, especially in environments where sensitive information exposure is a concern. Monitor Jenkins logs and audit access to detect any unusual activity or unauthorized access attempts. Employ network segmentation to isolate Jenkins controllers from untrusted networks and users. Additionally, organizations should keep abreast of updates from the Jenkins Project and apply patches promptly once released. As a longer-term measure, review CI/CD pipeline configurations to minimize logging of sensitive information and adopt secure coding and plugin usage practices.