CVE-2015-8481 in JIRA Software
Summary
by MITRE
Atlassian JIRA Software 7.0.3, JIRA Core 7.0.3, and the bundled JIRA Service Desk 3.0.3 installer attaches the wrong image to e-mail notifications when a user views an issue with inline wiki markup referencing an image attachment, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by updating a different issue that includes wiki markup for an external image reference.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-8481 affects Atlassian JIRA Software 7.0.3, JIRA Core 7.0.3, and JIRA Service Desk 3.0.3 installations where email notifications contain incorrect image attachments when users view issues with inline wiki markup referencing image attachments. This flaw represents a security misconfiguration that can lead to information disclosure through improper handling of external image references within wiki markup. The issue specifically occurs when users interact with issues containing wiki markup that references external images, creating a scenario where the system incorrectly attaches or displays images in email notifications.
This vulnerability stems from a flaw in how JIRA processes and renders wiki markup when generating email notifications. The technical implementation fails to properly validate or sanitize external image references within wiki markup, causing the system to attach incorrect images to notifications. When an issue contains wiki markup referencing an external image, the email notification system incorrectly maps the attachment reference, potentially exposing unintended image content from other issues or system components. The flaw manifests specifically during the email rendering process when users view issues through email notifications rather than direct web interface access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to gather sensitive data through indirect means. Remote attackers can exploit this by creating or modifying issues with specific wiki markup patterns that reference external images, potentially causing the system to include unintended attachments in email notifications. This could expose internal system images, user interface elements, or other sensitive visual content that should not be accessible through the notification system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a case where improper handling of user-supplied markup leads to unauthorized information disclosure.
The attack vector for this vulnerability involves a remote attacker who can manipulate issue content to include specific wiki markup referencing external images. According to ATT&CK framework, this scenario falls under T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" as attackers can craft malicious issues that, when viewed in email notifications, inadvertently expose sensitive information. The vulnerability also relates to T1071.004 for "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" since it involves external image references that may reveal system information through DNS queries or image loading patterns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8481 should focus on updating to patched versions of Atlassian JIRA Software, Core, and Service Desk products. Organizations should implement strict validation of wiki markup content, particularly around external image references, and consider disabling external image loading in email notifications where possible. Security teams should monitor email notification systems for unusual attachment patterns and implement content filtering mechanisms that can detect and prevent improper image attachment scenarios. Additionally, regular security assessments of wiki markup processing capabilities and email notification generation should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output sanitization in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content that may reference external resources.