The vulnerability CVE-2025-68931 affects the samrocketman jervis library, which is used in Job DSL plugin scripts and shared Jenkins pipeline libraries. Prior to version 2.2, jervis employs AES encryption in CBC mode with PKCS5 padding but lacks cryptographic authentication mechanisms such as HMAC or AEAD. This design flaw allows attackers to perform padding oracle attacks, a cryptanalysis technique that exploits the padding validation process to decrypt ciphertext without the encryption key. Additionally, the absence of authentication enables ciphertext manipulation, potentially leading to unauthorized data modification or injection of malicious payloads within Jenkins pipelines. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) and CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm). Exploitation does not require any privileges, user interaction, or authentication, and can be conducted remotely, increasing the attack surface. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed and assigned a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.7, indicating high severity due to the combination of network attack vector, no required privileges or user interaction, and high impact on data confidentiality and integrity. The issue is resolved in jervis version 2.2 by implementing proper cryptographic authentication to prevent padding oracle attacks and ciphertext tampering. Organizations using Jenkins pipelines that incorporate jervis versions prior to 2.2 should prioritize upgrading and auditing their CI/CD security posture to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-68931 can be significant, especially those relying heavily on Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment pipelines. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive build and deployment data, manipulation of pipeline scripts, or injection of malicious code into automated workflows. This compromises the integrity and confidentiality of software development processes, potentially leading to supply chain attacks or disruption of critical services. Sectors such as finance, manufacturing, telecommunications, and government agencies that depend on automated DevOps pipelines are particularly at risk. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability without authentication increases the likelihood of widespread attacks if unpatched systems are exposed. Furthermore, the manipulation of pipeline scripts could facilitate persistent backdoors or sabotage in production environments, amplifying operational risks and regulatory compliance challenges under frameworks like GDPR.

The primary mitigation is to upgrade all instances of the samrocketman jervis library to version 2.2 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed by adding proper cryptographic authentication to AES encryption. Organizations should audit their Jenkins environments to identify usage of jervis versions prior to 2.2, including in shared libraries and Job DSL scripts. Implement strict access controls and network segmentation to limit exposure of Jenkins servers to untrusted networks. Enable pipeline script signing and validation where possible to detect unauthorized modifications. Monitor Jenkins logs and pipeline execution for anomalies indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, consider employing runtime security tools that detect cryptographic misuse or unusual pipeline behavior. Regularly update and patch Jenkins and related plugins to minimize the attack surface. Finally, conduct security awareness training for DevOps teams on secure pipeline practices and the risks of cryptographic vulnerabilities.