CVE-2025-68701 identifies a cryptographic vulnerability in the Jervis library, a tool used to facilitate Job DSL plugin scripts and shared Jenkins pipeline libraries. The core issue lies in the use of a deterministic AES Initialization Vector (IV) derived directly from a passphrase prior to version 2.2. AES encryption requires a unique, unpredictable IV for each encryption operation to maintain semantic security; deterministic IVs allow attackers to predict or reproduce the IV, enabling cryptanalysis attacks such as ciphertext manipulation or plaintext recovery. This vulnerability falls under CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm) and CWE-340 (Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator). The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates the vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication or user interaction, with a high impact on confidentiality (VC:H) but no impact on integrity or availability. The flaw affects all Jervis versions before 2.2, which are often embedded in Jenkins CI/CD environments to automate build and deployment pipelines. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow attackers to decrypt sensitive pipeline data, steal credentials, or inject malicious commands by manipulating encrypted configuration or secrets. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the high CVSS score and the critical role of Jenkins in software delivery pipelines make this a significant threat. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed in January 2026, with the fix implemented by changing the IV derivation to a secure, non-deterministic method in Jervis 2.2.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-68701 is substantial due to the widespread use of Jenkins in software development and deployment pipelines across industries such as finance, manufacturing, telecommunications, and government. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including credentials, proprietary code, or configuration secrets embedded in pipeline scripts. This compromises confidentiality and could facilitate further attacks like lateral movement or supply chain compromise. The vulnerability does not directly affect integrity or availability but indirectly threatens these through potential pipeline sabotage or injection of malicious code. Organizations relying on automated CI/CD processes with Jervis versions prior to 2.2 are at risk of data breaches and operational disruption. The lack of required authentication and user interaction lowers the barrier for attackers, increasing the likelihood of exploitation. Given the criticality of software supply chains in Europe’s digital infrastructure, this vulnerability poses a risk to national security, economic stability, and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR.

European organizations should immediately upgrade all Jervis library instances to version 2.2 or later to eliminate the deterministic IV vulnerability. Conduct a thorough audit of Jenkins pipeline scripts and Job DSL plugins to identify usage of Jervis and verify the version in use. Where upgrading is not immediately feasible, consider isolating Jenkins environments and restricting network access to reduce exposure. Implement enhanced monitoring and logging for Jenkins pipelines to detect anomalous activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. Review and rotate any secrets or credentials that may have been encrypted using vulnerable Jervis versions to prevent unauthorized access. Educate DevOps teams on secure cryptographic practices and the importance of timely patching in CI/CD toolchains. Engage with Jenkins and Jervis community channels for updates or patches and consider integrating automated vulnerability scanning into the CI/CD process to catch similar issues early. Finally, ensure incident response plans include scenarios involving pipeline compromise to minimize impact if exploitation occurs.