The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-53660 affects the Jenkins QMetry Test Management Plugin version 1.13 and earlier. The core issue is that the plugin fails to mask QMetry Automation API keys when displayed on the job configuration form within Jenkins. This means that any user with permission to view or edit job configurations can see these sensitive API keys in plaintext. These keys are used to authenticate automation tasks with QMetry services, and their exposure increases the risk of unauthorized access to automation workflows or data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-256 (Plaintext Storage of a Password) and CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, indicating a medium severity level, with an attack vector of network (remote), low attack complexity, requiring low privileges, no user interaction, and limited confidentiality impact. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been released at the time of publication. The vulnerability does not affect the integrity or availability of Jenkins or the plugin but compromises the confidentiality of API keys. Because Jenkins is widely used in continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, exposure of these keys could lead to unauthorized automation actions or data leakage if attackers leverage the keys. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure handling and masking of sensitive credentials in plugin UI components.

For European organizations, the exposure of QMetry Automation API keys could lead to unauthorized access to automated testing and reporting systems integrated with Jenkins. This may result in unauthorized test executions, data leakage, or manipulation of test results, potentially undermining software quality assurance processes. While the vulnerability does not directly impact system availability or integrity, the confidentiality breach could facilitate lateral movement or further attacks if attackers use the keys to access other systems. Organizations with extensive CI/CD pipelines relying on Jenkins and QMetry integrations are at higher risk. The medium severity suggests a moderate impact, but the risk increases if API keys grant broad privileges or access to sensitive environments. Additionally, regulatory requirements in Europe, such as GDPR, may impose obligations to protect such credentials and report breaches, increasing compliance risks. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of future attacks.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict Jenkins job configuration access strictly to trusted administrators and developers to minimize exposure of API keys. 2) Regularly audit and rotate QMetry Automation API keys to limit the window of exposure if keys are compromised. 3) Monitor Jenkins logs and QMetry API usage for unusual or unauthorized activity that could indicate exploitation. 4) Isolate Jenkins environments and use network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement from compromised credentials. 5) Employ secrets management solutions to store and inject API keys securely rather than embedding them in job configurations. 6) Engage with the Jenkins plugin maintainers to track patch releases and apply updates promptly once available. 7) Educate development and DevOps teams on the risks of exposing credentials in UI forms and enforce secure coding and configuration practices. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and secrets management tailored to this vulnerability.