CVE-2025-53653 is a security vulnerability identified in the Jenkins Aqua Security Scanner Plugin version 3.2.8 and earlier. The vulnerability arises because the plugin stores sensitive Scanner Tokens used for authenticating with the Aqua Security API in an unencrypted form within the job configuration files (config.xml) on the Jenkins controller. These configuration files are accessible to users who have Item or Extended Read permissions within Jenkins or those who can access the Jenkins controller's underlying file system. Since these tokens grant access to the Aqua Security API, their exposure can lead to unauthorized use of the scanning service, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate scan results, access sensitive container security data, or perform actions on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability does not require elevated Jenkins permissions beyond read access to job configurations, which broadens the scope of potential exploitation. Additionally, no authentication or user interaction beyond read permissions is necessary to view these tokens, increasing the risk. Currently, there are no known exploits in the wild, and no official patch or CVSS score has been published. However, the exposure of unencrypted API tokens in configuration files represents a significant security risk, especially in environments where Jenkins is used for continuous integration and deployment pipelines involving containerized applications and security scanning.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could have serious implications. Jenkins is widely used across various industries in Europe for automating software builds, testing, and deployment. The Aqua Security Scanner Plugin integrates container security scanning into these pipelines, making it a critical component in securing containerized applications. Exposure of API tokens could allow unauthorized users to access or manipulate security scan data, potentially masking vulnerabilities or injecting false positives/negatives. This undermines the integrity of the security posture and could lead to deployment of vulnerable containers into production environments. Confidentiality is also at risk since attackers could retrieve sensitive security scan results or configuration details. Moreover, if attackers leverage these tokens to perform unauthorized scans or API calls, it could lead to denial of service or resource exhaustion on the Aqua Security platform. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation by users with read access increases the threat surface, especially in large organizations with many Jenkins users or in shared Jenkins environments. This could result in compliance violations under GDPR if sensitive data is exposed or manipulated, leading to regulatory and reputational damage.

European organizations should immediately audit their Jenkins environments to identify instances of the Aqua Security Scanner Plugin version 3.2.8 or earlier. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider the following mitigations: 1) Restrict Jenkins permissions to limit Item/Extended Read access only to trusted users, minimizing exposure of job configuration files. 2) Implement strict file system access controls on the Jenkins controller to prevent unauthorized access to config.xml files. 3) Rotate all Aqua Security API tokens used by the plugin to invalidate any potentially exposed credentials. 4) Monitor Jenkins logs and Aqua Security API usage for unusual activity that could indicate token misuse. 5) Consider temporarily disabling the Aqua Security Scanner Plugin or replacing it with alternative scanning solutions that do not expose sensitive tokens. 6) Follow Jenkins best practices for credential management, such as using Jenkins Credentials Plugin to securely store tokens instead of embedding them in job configurations. 7) Stay alert for official patches or updates from the Jenkins Project and apply them promptly once available. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, credential rotation, and monitoring specific to this vulnerability.