CVE-2017-18041 in Bamboo
Summary
by MITRE
The viewDeploymentVersionJiraIssuesDialog resource in Atlassian Bamboo before version 6.2.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript via a cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the name of a release.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18041 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw in Atlassian Bamboo's web interface, specifically within the viewDeploymentVersionJiraIssuesDialog resource. This vulnerability affects all versions of Bamboo prior to 6.2.0 and exposes organizations to significant security risks through client-side attack vectors. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input in the release name field, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected resource. When users create or modify release names in the deployment version dialog, the application does not adequately escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript markup. This failure in proper sanitization creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that persist in the application's user interface elements, particularly in the release name display areas. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive authentication tokens, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. In enterprise environments where Bamboo serves as a central deployment orchestration platform, this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to deployment configurations, sensitive build artifacts, or even escalate privileges within the CI/CD pipeline. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that deployment version dialogs often contain sensitive operational information that users trust and interact with regularly.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary and most effective remediation involves upgrading to Atlassian Bamboo version 6.2.0 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding fixes. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities, establishing strict input validation policies, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Network segmentation and privilege separation can further limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while user education about suspicious links and attachments remains crucial for defense in depth. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential for seemingly minor interface flaws to create significant security breaches in complex enterprise systems.