CVE-2025-31722: Critical Jenkins Templating Engine Plugin Vulnerability

Overview

CVE-2025-31722 is a notable security vulnerability that affects the Jenkins Templating Engine Plugin version 2.5.3 and earlier versions. This vulnerability allows attackers with Item/Configure permission to execute arbitrary code in the context of the Jenkins controller JVM. Jenkins is a widely used open-source automation server that enables developers to build, test, and deploy software. Its broad use in the software development world makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could potentially impact numerous systems and applications, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-31722
Severity: Critical (8.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Jenkins Templating Engine Plugin | 2.5.3 and earlier versions

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability stems from the lack of sandbox protection for libraries defined in folders in the Jenkins Templating Engine Plugin. An attacker who has Item/Configure permission can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code in the context of the Jenkins controller JVM. This can be done without any interaction from the user, making the vulnerability even more potent.

Conceptual Example Code

The following conceptual example demonstrates how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability using a malicious payload:

# Assume the attacker has gained the Item/Configure permission
$ jenkins_script.sh -d '{ "library": "untrusted_library", "method": "execute", "args": ["arbitrary_code"] }'

In this example, the attacker uses a script (`jenkins_script.sh`) to execute a method (`execute`) from an untrusted library. The `arbitrary_code` argument is the malicious payload that the attacker wants to run in the context of the Jenkins controller JVM.

Recommendations

To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the latest vendor patch as soon as possible. If a patch cannot be applied immediately, a temporary mitigation can be achieved by using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS). These systems can be configured to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability.