CVE-2025-53665 identifies a security weakness in the Jenkins Apica Loadtest Plugin (version 1.10 and earlier) where Apica Loadtest LTP authentication tokens are displayed in plaintext on the job configuration form within Jenkins. This plugin is used to integrate Apica Loadtest performance testing into Jenkins CI/CD pipelines. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to mask or obfuscate these tokens, violating secure credential handling best practices (CWE-256). An attacker with at least job configuration privileges on the Jenkins server can view these tokens directly, potentially capturing them to gain unauthorized access to Apica Loadtest services. The CVSS score of 4.3 (medium severity) reflects that the attack vector is network-based, requires low complexity, and privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction. The impact is limited to confidentiality loss without affecting integrity or availability of Jenkins or Apica Loadtest. No patches or exploits are currently known, but the exposure of authentication tokens increases the risk of lateral movement or abuse of performance testing resources. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure credential management in CI/CD environments and the need for Jenkins plugin developers to implement proper masking of sensitive data in UI forms.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the confidentiality of Apica Loadtest authentication tokens used within Jenkins pipelines. Unauthorized disclosure of these tokens could allow attackers to misuse load testing services, potentially leading to unauthorized performance testing activities or data exposure within the load testing environment. While the direct impact on core business systems is limited, misuse of load testing resources could disrupt development workflows or incur additional costs. Organizations in sectors with heavy reliance on CI/CD automation and performance testing—such as finance, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure—may face increased risk if attackers leverage stolen tokens to conduct unauthorized tests or reconnaissance. The vulnerability requires at least job configuration privileges, so insider threats or compromised Jenkins accounts pose a significant risk vector. Given the widespread use of Jenkins in European software development, failure to address this issue could lead to broader exposure of sensitive credentials and potential escalation of attacks within development pipelines.

European organizations should immediately audit Jenkins instances to identify usage of the Apica Loadtest Plugin version 1.10 or earlier. Restrict job configuration permissions to trusted personnel only, minimizing the number of users who can view sensitive token information. If possible, rotate Apica Loadtest LTP authentication tokens to invalidate any potentially exposed credentials. Monitor Jenkins logs and Apica Loadtest access logs for unusual activity indicative of token misuse. Since no official patch is currently available, consider removing or disabling the plugin until a secure version is released. Additionally, implement environment segmentation to isolate Jenkins servers from critical production systems, reducing the impact of any credential compromise. Educate developers and DevOps teams on secure handling of authentication tokens and encourage the use of Jenkins credentials plugins that mask sensitive data. Finally, engage with the Jenkins plugin maintainers to track patch releases and apply updates promptly once available.