CVE-2025-64144 identifies a vulnerability in the Jenkins ByteGuard Build Actions Plugin version 1.0, where API tokens are stored in plaintext within job configuration files (config.xml) on the Jenkins controller. These tokens are intended to authenticate API requests but are exposed due to lack of encryption, violating secure credential storage best practices (CWE-311). The vulnerability allows any user with Item/Extended Read permissions in Jenkins or those with access to the Jenkins controller's file system to retrieve these tokens. Since Jenkins is widely used for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), exposure of API tokens can lead to unauthorized access to Jenkins APIs or other integrated systems. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N) indicates that the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network with low complexity, requires some privileges (Item/Extended Read), does not require user interaction, and impacts confidentiality only. There is no known exploitation in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to 1.0. Organizations relying on Jenkins for build automation and deployment pipelines should be aware of this risk, especially where multiple users have read permissions or where file system access is not tightly controlled.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the confidentiality of API tokens used within Jenkins environments. Exposure of these tokens can allow attackers or unauthorized insiders to perform API operations, potentially leading to unauthorized job executions, pipeline manipulations, or access to integrated services. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, misuse of exposed tokens could indirectly cause operational disruptions or data leakage. Organizations with complex CI/CD pipelines and multiple collaborators are at higher risk, especially if permission management is lax. The impact is heightened in sectors with stringent compliance requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, common across Europe. Additionally, since Jenkins is widely adopted in European IT environments, the scope of affected systems is significant. The absence of a patch increases the window of exposure, necessitating immediate compensating controls.

1. Immediately audit and restrict Jenkins user permissions, ensuring only trusted users have Item/Extended Read access. 2. Limit access to the Jenkins controller file system to authorized administrators only, using strict OS-level permissions and monitoring. 3. Rotate any API tokens stored in Jenkins ByteGuard Build Actions Plugin config.xml files to invalidate potentially exposed credentials. 4. Implement network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict access to the Jenkins controller and its API endpoints. 5. Monitor Jenkins logs and API usage for anomalous activity that could indicate token misuse. 6. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or removing the ByteGuard Build Actions Plugin if feasible or isolating Jenkins instances running this plugin. 7. Educate DevOps teams about secure credential storage and the risks of plaintext token exposure. 8. Prepare to apply vendor patches promptly once available and verify that token storage is encrypted or otherwise secured.