CVE-2025-64134 identifies a vulnerability in the Jenkins JDepend Plugin (version 1.3.1 and earlier) caused by the inclusion of an outdated JDepend Maven Plugin component. This component does not properly configure its XML parser to disable XML External Entity (XXE) processing, a well-known security weakness categorized under CWE-611. XXE vulnerabilities allow attackers to craft malicious XML input that can cause the parser to process external entities, potentially leading to unauthorized disclosure of internal files, server-side request forgery (SSRF), or denial of service. In this case, the vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L) but requires low privileges (PR:L) on the Jenkins server, such as a user with limited access rights. No user interaction is needed (UI:N), and the vulnerability affects confidentiality primarily (C:H), with limited impact on integrity (I:L) and no impact on availability (A:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), meaning the exploit affects only the vulnerable component. Although no public exploits are reported yet, the vulnerability's presence in a widely used continuous integration tool like Jenkins raises concerns about potential targeted attacks. The lack of an official patch at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention to alternative mitigations. The Jenkins JDepend Plugin is used primarily in Java development environments to analyze code dependencies, making development and build servers the primary targets. The vulnerability could allow attackers to read sensitive configuration files or credentials stored on the Jenkins server, undermining the security of the entire CI/CD pipeline.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive build and configuration data within Jenkins environments. Since Jenkins is widely adopted across Europe for software development and DevOps automation, exploitation could lead to exposure of proprietary source code, credentials, or internal network information. This could facilitate further lateral movement or targeted attacks against intellectual property or critical infrastructure. The requirement for low privileges means that even compromised or less-privileged users could leverage this flaw to escalate information disclosure. The impact is especially critical for sectors with strict data protection regulations such as finance, healthcare, and government, where leakage of sensitive data could result in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, the vulnerability could undermine trust in automated build pipelines, potentially disrupting software delivery processes. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive defense, but the high CVSS score indicates that the threat should be treated with urgency.

1. Monitor Jenkins plugin repositories and official Jenkins security advisories for an official patch or updated version of the JDepend Plugin that addresses the XXE vulnerability, and apply it promptly once available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict access to Jenkins instances and the JDepend Plugin functionality to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of exploitation by unauthorized or low-privileged users. 3. Implement network segmentation and firewall rules to limit Jenkins server exposure, especially restricting inbound access to trusted IP ranges. 4. Configure Jenkins security settings to enforce strong authentication and role-based access control (RBAC), ensuring that only necessary users have permissions to execute or configure the JDepend Plugin. 5. Where possible, disable or remove the JDepend Plugin if it is not essential to the build process, reducing the attack surface. 6. Employ XML parser hardening techniques by customizing plugin or Jenkins configuration to disable external entity processing if supported. 7. Conduct regular security audits and scanning of Jenkins environments to detect any anomalous activity or attempts to exploit XXE vulnerabilities. 8. Educate development and DevOps teams about the risks of XXE and the importance of secure plugin management.