CVE-2018-13387 in JIRA Server
Summary
by MITRE
The IncomingMailServers resource in Atlassian JIRA Server before version 7.6.7, from version 7.7.0 before version 7.7.5, from version 7.8.0 before version 7.8.5, from version 7.9.0 before version 7.9.3 and from version 7.10.0 before version 7.10.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript via a cross site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the messagesThreshold parameter as the fix for CVE-2017-18039 was incomplete.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-13387 represents a cross site scripting flaw in Atlassian JIRA Server that affects multiple version ranges including 7.6.6 and earlier, 7.7.4 and earlier, 7.8.4 and earlier, 7.9.2 and earlier, and 7.10.1 and earlier. This issue specifically targets the IncomingMailServers resource within the JIRA platform, which handles email server configurations and processing. The vulnerability manifests through the messagesThreshold parameter, which is used to configure thresholds for incoming email messages. The flaw stems from an incomplete fix for a previous vulnerability CVE-2017-18039, indicating that security remediation efforts were insufficient to fully address the underlying XSS vulnerability. This represents a classic case of remediation gaps in web application security where developers fail to account for all possible input vectors or parameter handling scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code into the JIRA application through maliciously crafted input in the messagesThreshold parameter. When the application processes this parameter without proper sanitization or encoding, it renders the injected code within the user interface, creating an execution environment for malicious scripts. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers who simply need to access the affected JIRA instance. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables XSS attacks. The vulnerability can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, specifically targeting web application interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized administrative access within the JIRA environment. An attacker could potentially inject scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute commands on the server if the application has additional vulnerabilities. The affected JIRA Server versions represent a significant portion of the installed base, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that have not yet patched their systems. The vulnerability affects not only the availability of the service but also its integrity and confidentiality, as attackers could manipulate email processing workflows and potentially access sensitive project information. Organizations with JIRA instances configured to process incoming emails through the affected IncomingMailServers resource are at risk of having their email processing capabilities compromised, potentially leading to data exfiltration or service disruption. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of comprehensive security testing and validation of security patches, as the incomplete fix for CVE-2017-18039 allowed the vulnerability to persist in subsequent releases, creating a false sense of security for system administrators who may have believed the previous vulnerability was fully resolved.