CVE-2017-14591 in FishEye
Summary
by MITRE
Atlassian Fisheye and Crucible versions less than 4.4.3 and version 4.5.0 are vulnerable to argument injection through filenames in Mercurial repositories, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on a system running the impacted software.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14591 affects Atlassian Fisheye and Crucible software versions prior to 4.4.3 and including version 4.5.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution through improper handling of filename arguments within Mercurial repository operations. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the software's processing pipeline for repository metadata, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary command arguments that can be executed with the privileges of the running application.
The technical flaw manifests when the software processes filenames from Mercurial repositories without proper sanitization of special characters or command delimiters that could be interpreted as shell commands by underlying system processes. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into shell commands without proper validation or escaping. The vulnerability occurs during the parsing of repository metadata where filenames containing malicious payloads can trigger unintended command execution when the system attempts to process these elements through shell interfaces or system calls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized code execution to potentially compromise entire deployment environments, as the affected software typically runs with elevated privileges to access repository data and perform administrative functions. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands on the host system, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within network environments where the software is deployed. The vulnerability affects organizations using Mercurial repositories within their Fisheye and Crucible environments, making it particularly dangerous for development teams that rely on these tools for code review and repository management.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Fisheye and Crucible version 4.4.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the argument injection vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of affected systems, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious command execution patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the attack vector through legitimate system tools and interfaces. Security teams should also consider implementing input validation rules and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other software components that may process untrusted data through shell interfaces or system calls.