CVE-2025-67643: 
Java vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-67643 is a path traversal vulnerability in the Jenkins Redpen - Pipeline Reporter for Jira Plugin (SECURITY-3290) that allows authenticated attackers with Item/Configure permission to read arbitrary files from the Jenkins controller's workspace directory. It affects plugin versions up to and including 1.054.v7b_9517b_6b_202. The vulnerability was disclosed on December 10, 2025, as part of a Jenkins security advisory. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (Medium) (Jenkins Advisory, GitHub Advisory).

The root cause is improper path validation (CWE-22 — Path Traversal) when the plugin uploads artifacts to Jira. Compounding the issue, the plugin does not support distributed builds, meaning artifact uploads are performed from the Jenkins controller rather than from the build agent; this design flaw means a manipulated workspace directory path resolves to locations outside the intended restricted directory on the controller filesystem. An attacker with Item/Configure permission can craft a job configuration that specifies a traversal path (e.g., using ../ sequences) as the workspace directory, causing the plugin to read and upload files from arbitrary locations on the controller to Jira (Jenkins Advisory, GitHub Advisory).

Successful exploitation allows a low-privileged attacker (with Item/Configure permission) to read arbitrary files present on the Jenkins controller's workspace directory, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, credentials, secrets, or other application data stored on the controller. There is no integrity or availability impact — the vulnerability is limited to confidentiality. However, access to sensitive files such as Jenkins configuration or credential stores could facilitate lateral movement or privilege escalation within the CI/CD environment (Jenkins Advisory).

1. Reconnaissance: Identify Jenkins instances with the Redpen - Pipeline Reporter for Jira Plugin version ≤ 1.054.v7b_9517b_6b_202 installed. Confirm the attacker account holds Item/Configure permission on at least one job.
2. Craft malicious job configuration: Using the Jenkins UI or REST API, configure a job that uses the Redpen plugin and set the workspace directory parameter to a path traversal string (e.g., ../../etc/ or another sensitive path on the Jenkins controller filesystem).
3. Trigger artifact upload: Run the job or trigger the artifact upload action to Jira. Because the plugin performs uploads from the Jenkins controller and does not properly validate the workspace path, it will read files from the traversed directory.
4. Retrieve exfiltrated files: The files from the traversed path are uploaded to the configured Jira instance, where the attacker can access them, potentially exposing credentials, configuration files, or other sensitive data from the Jenkins controller (Jenkins Advisory).

• Logs: Jenkins audit logs showing Item/Configure permission usage on jobs configured with the Redpen plugin by unexpected or low-privileged users; job configuration changes referencing unusual workspace directory paths containing ../ sequences.
• Network: Outbound connections from the Jenkins controller to a Jira instance uploading files from unexpected or sensitive filesystem paths.
• File System: Job config.xml files on the Jenkins controller containing workspace directory values with path traversal patterns (e.g., ../../etc/passwd, ../../var/jenkins_home/secrets/).
• Process: Jenkins controller process accessing files outside the expected workspace directory during build execution or artifact upload steps.

As of the advisory publication date (December 10, 2025), no patched version of the Redpen - Pipeline Reporter for Jira Plugin is available (Jenkins Advisory). Recommended mitigations include:

• Disable or uninstall the Redpen - Pipeline Reporter for Jira Plugin until a fix is released.
• Restrict Item/Configure permissions to only fully trusted users, minimizing the pool of potential attackers.
• Monitor job configurations for path traversal patterns in workspace directory settings.
• Follow the Jenkins security advisory for updates on patch availability: Jenkins Advisory.

The vulnerability was discovered and reported by Yaroslav Afenkin of CloudBees, Inc., and was disclosed as part of the Jenkins December 10, 2025 security advisory alongside several other plugin and core vulnerabilities. No notable independent researcher commentary, social media discussion, or significant media coverage specific to CVE-2025-67643 has been identified beyond standard vulnerability database aggregation (Jenkins Advisory).