CVE-2017-16864 in JIRA
Summary
by MITRE
The issue search resource in Atlassian Jira before version 7.4.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript via a cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the orderby parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16864 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within Atlassian Jira's search functionality, specifically affecting versions prior to 7.4.2. This vulnerability exists in the issue search resource where the orderby parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw resides in the application's handling of search parameters, where unfiltered input is directly incorporated into the response without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the Jira interface and potentially escalate privileges within the application. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted JavaScript within the orderby parameter, any user who clicks this link while authenticated to the Jira instance becomes vulnerable to the injection. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the user and the application, allowing the malicious code to execute with the privileges of the authenticated user. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Jira serves as a central collaboration platform for project management, issue tracking, and development workflows. The attack can lead to session hijacking, data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or even serve as a stepping stone for further attacks within the network infrastructure, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Jira should immediately implement mitigation strategies to protect their systems from exploitation. The primary recommended action involves upgrading to Atlassian Jira version 7.4.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms for the orderby parameter. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious patterns in search parameters, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. Input validation should be enforced at multiple layers including application-level filtering, output encoding, and proper parameter handling. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any potential variants of this vulnerability that might exist within custom Jira plugins or configurations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the principle of least privilege in web application security, where all user-supplied data should be treated as potentially malicious until properly validated and encoded. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of such vulnerabilities, as the impact can extend beyond immediate data compromise to include long-term security posture degradation.