CVE-2025-64140 is a command injection vulnerability found in the Jenkins Azure CLI Plugin version 0.9 and earlier. The plugin fails to properly restrict which shell commands it executes on the Jenkins controller, allowing an attacker who has Item/Configure permission within Jenkins to execute arbitrary shell commands remotely. This vulnerability arises from improper input validation and command execution controls (classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command). The Jenkins controller typically has high privileges and access to critical build and deployment infrastructure, so exploitation can lead to full system compromise, including data theft, service disruption, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without user interaction but requires the attacker to have some level of authenticated access (Item/Configure permission). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no user interaction needed. No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be treated with urgency. Organizations using Jenkins with this plugin should audit permissions and prepare to update once a fix is released.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to software development and deployment pipelines that rely on Jenkins with the Azure CLI Plugin. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized command execution on the Jenkins controller, potentially resulting in theft or manipulation of source code, injection of malicious code into builds, disruption of CI/CD workflows, and compromise of connected infrastructure. This can cause operational downtime, intellectual property loss, and reputational damage. Given the critical role of Jenkins in automating deployments, the impact extends beyond the Jenkins server to downstream production environments. Organizations in sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure, which heavily rely on automated DevOps processes, are particularly vulnerable. The requirement for Item/Configure permission means insider threats or compromised developer accounts could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability.

Immediate mitigation steps include auditing and restricting Jenkins permissions to limit Item/Configure access only to trusted administrators. Implement strict access controls and monitor for unusual configuration changes or command executions within Jenkins. Disable or remove the Azure CLI Plugin if it is not essential. Network segmentation should isolate the Jenkins controller from sensitive production systems. Employ Jenkins security best practices such as enabling Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and using credential vaults. Since no patch is currently available, organizations should track Jenkins security advisories closely and apply updates promptly once a fix is released. Additionally, consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection on the Jenkins controller to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regularly back up Jenkins configurations and jobs to enable recovery in case of compromise.