CVE-2025-53659 identifies a security vulnerability in the Jenkins QMetry Test Management Plugin, versions 1.13 and earlier. The plugin stores QMetry Automation API keys unencrypted within the job configuration files (config.xml) on the Jenkins controller node. These files are accessible to users who have Item/Extended Read permissions within Jenkins or those who can access the Jenkins controller's underlying file system. Because the API keys are stored in plaintext, an attacker or unauthorized user with these access rights can extract sensitive credentials, potentially allowing them to interact with QMetry automation services without authorization. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-311 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information), indicating a failure to protect sensitive data at rest. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no direct impact on integrity or availability. No patches or fixes have been published at the time of disclosure, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. This vulnerability highlights the risk of improper credential management in CI/CD environments, which can lead to lateral movement or unauthorized access to integrated testing tools and automation frameworks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of automation API keys used in Jenkins environments. Unauthorized disclosure of these keys could allow attackers or malicious insiders to manipulate test management workflows, potentially undermining software quality assurance processes. This could lead to unauthorized test executions, data leakage from test environments, or disruption of automated testing pipelines. Organizations relying heavily on Jenkins for continuous integration and delivery, especially those integrating QMetry Test Management, may face increased risk of credential compromise. The exposure of API keys could also facilitate further attacks on connected systems or cloud services. Given the medium severity and the requirement for some level of authenticated access, the threat is more pronounced in environments with lax access controls or shared Jenkins instances. The absence of a patch increases the urgency for operational mitigations. The impact extends beyond confidentiality to potential operational disruptions if attackers misuse the automation infrastructure.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately audit and restrict Jenkins user permissions, ensuring that only trusted users have Item/Extended Read access. Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC) policies to minimize exposure of sensitive configuration files. Secure the Jenkins controller file system by limiting OS-level access to authorized administrators only. Consider encrypting sensitive data at rest using Jenkins credentials plugins or external secrets management solutions to avoid storing API keys in plaintext within config.xml files. Monitor Jenkins logs and access patterns for unusual activity that could indicate credential harvesting attempts. Until an official patch is released, avoid using the vulnerable plugin version or disable the QMetry Test Management Plugin if feasible. Additionally, rotate any exposed API keys immediately and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for Jenkins access to reduce the risk of credential misuse. Regularly update Jenkins and its plugins to incorporate security fixes once available.