CVE-2007-6619 in JIRA
Summary
by MITRE
The Setup Wizard in Atlassian JIRA Enterprise Edition before 3.12.1 does not properly restrict setup attempts after setup is complete, which allows remote attackers to change the default language.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6619 affects Atlassian JIRA Enterprise Edition versions prior to 3.12.1, specifically within the Setup Wizard component. This issue represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security boundaries of the application's initial configuration process. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that fail to properly enforce the restriction of setup operations once the system has completed its initial configuration phase.
The technical flaw manifests in the Setup Wizard's inability to effectively track and validate the system state during setup attempts. When JIRA completes its initial setup process, the system should transition to a locked state where further configuration changes are either disabled or require elevated authentication. However, this vulnerability allows unauthorized remote attackers to bypass these state checks and manipulate the default language settings of the application. The flaw exists because the system does not properly maintain state information or implement adequate authorization controls to prevent subsequent setup operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for organizations using affected JIRA versions. Remote attackers who can access the Setup Wizard interface can potentially alter the default language configuration, which may serve as a stepping stone for more extensive system manipulation. While the immediate impact appears limited to language changes, this vulnerability demonstrates poor access control implementation that could potentially expose other configuration parameters to unauthorized modification. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-603, which describes the use of a privileged account for non-privileged operations, and CWE-285, which covers insufficient authorization checks.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication for the initial setup modification. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the T1068 technique for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1078 for "Valid Accounts" as attackers can leverage the setup process to gain unauthorized access to system configuration. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple language modification, as it indicates a fundamental flaw in the application's access control mechanisms that could potentially expose other administrative functions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to JIRA Enterprise Edition 3.12.1 or later versions where this vulnerability has been addressed. The upgrade process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that existing configurations remain functional while implementing the security fixes. Additional defensive measures include network segmentation to limit access to the Setup Wizard interface, implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious setup attempts, and conducting regular security audits to identify similar access control vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also involve reviewing and strengthening the overall authentication and authorization mechanisms within the application to prevent similar issues from emerging in other components.