CVE-2016-6285 in Jira
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in includes/decorators/global-translations.jsp in Atlassian JIRA before 7.2.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the HTTP Host header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2016-6285 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Atlassian JIRA's global-translations.jsp component prior to version 7.2.2. This vulnerability specifically targets the HTTP Host header processing mechanism within the application's decorator system, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers. The flaw resides in how JIRA handles and sanitizes the Host header value during the rendering of global translations, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that gets executed when other users view affected pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the insecure handling of the HTTP Host header parameter within the JIRA application's request processing pipeline. When the application processes requests through the global-translations.jsp decorator, it fails to properly sanitize or escape the Host header value before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML content. This creates a classic XSS attack vector where malicious input from the Host header gets reflected back to users without adequate security controls. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the global translation level, meaning the impact affects all users of the application and can potentially be exploited across multiple pages and functionalities.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6285 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the JIRA environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or harvest sensitive information from the application. Given that JIRA serves as a central collaboration and issue tracking platform for many organizations, this vulnerability could compromise the integrity of project data, user authentication mechanisms, and overall security posture. The vulnerability's location within the global translation system means that it could affect multiple user interfaces and potentially bypass standard security controls that might be in place for specific page handlers.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack pattern follows standard XSS methodologies described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in user browsers. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected JIRA installations to version 7.2.2 or later, as this vulnerability has been widely exploited in the wild. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation for HTTP headers, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar insecure parameter handling patterns that could lead to similar vulnerabilities.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of secure input handling in web applications, particularly for parameters that are automatically included in HTTP requests. This flaw demonstrates how seemingly innocuous header parameters can become attack vectors when not properly sanitized, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and input validation across all application components. Organizations should implement security awareness training for developers regarding secure coding practices and establish robust security review processes to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors in the broader threat landscape.