CVE-2017-14588 in FishEye
Summary
by MITRE
Various resources in Atlassian FishEye and Crucible before version 4.4.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript via a cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the dialog parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14588 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw affecting Atlassian FishEye and Crucible platforms prior to version 4.4.2. This security weakness resides in the handling of user-supplied input within the dialog parameter, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of affected applications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-provided data before rendering it within web pages. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious payloads that leverage the dialog parameter to inject HTML or JavaScript code, potentially leading to unauthorized actions performed on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability demonstrates a classic parameter-based injection attack vector where the dialog parameter serves as the primary entry point for malicious input. When the application processes this parameter without adequate sanitization, it allows attackers to inject script code that executes in the victim's browser context. This particular weakness aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a variant of reflected XSS attacks where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that FishEye and Crucible are widely used for code review and repository browsing, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to compromise developer environments.
Operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration from the compromised environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these applications often contain sensitive source code repositories, development artifacts, and privileged user information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access restricted code bases, or manipulate the application's functionality to serve as a foothold for further network infiltration. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system and can be executed from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with remote development teams.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of FishEye and Crucible should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches released in version 4.4.2. The fix typically involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to sanitize all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dialog and similar interactive components. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious parameter values, and conduct thorough security reviews of all user input handling mechanisms within the application. Additionally, organizations should review their access controls and user permissions to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to gain elevated privileges within the development environment. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while effectively addressing the XSS vulnerability.