CVE-2019-15003 in Jira Service Desk Server
Summary
by MITRE
The Customer Context Filter in Atlassian Jira Service Desk Server and Jira Service Desk Data Center before 3.9.17, from 3.10.0 before 3.16.10, from 4.0.0 before 4.2.6, from 4.3.0 before 4.3.5, from 4.4.0 before 4.4.3, and from 4.5.0 before 4.5.1 allows remote attackers with portal access to view arbitrary issues in Jira Service Desk projects via authorization bypass. Note that when the 'Anyone can email the service desk or raise a request in the portal' setting is enabled, an attacker can grant themselves portal access, allowing them to exploit the vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15003 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within Atlassian Jira Service Desk Server and Data Center platforms across multiple version ranges. This security weakness specifically affects the Customer Context Filter component, which is responsible for controlling access to issues within Jira Service Desk projects. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 3.9.17, 3.16.10, 4.2.6, 4.3.5, 4.4.3, and 4.5.1 across their respective release branches, creating a persistent security gap that could be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks within the Customer Context Filter mechanism. When users possess portal access, either through legitimate means or by exploiting the additional attack vector where the 'Anyone can email the service desk or raise a request in the portal' setting is enabled, they can manipulate the system to view issues they should not have access to. This occurs because the filter fails to properly validate user permissions against the specific issues being requested, allowing unauthorized access to arbitrary project issues. The flaw essentially creates a path where authenticated portal users can bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive information from other projects or issues within the same Jira Service Desk instance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Jira Service Desk for customer service management and issue tracking. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain visibility into confidential customer information, internal project details, and potentially sensitive business data that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. This unauthorized access could lead to data breaches, compliance violations, and potential escalation to more severe attacks such as privilege escalation or information disclosure. Organizations with multiple service desks or complex project structures may face particularly severe consequences, as the vulnerability could allow access to issues across different departments or business units. The risk is further amplified when the portal access setting is enabled, as this removes the requirement for authentication and allows any attacker to potentially gain access to the portal and subsequently exploit the authorization bypass.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, specifically versions 3.9.17, 3.16.10, 4.2.6, 4.3.5, 4.4.3, and 4.5.1 respectively. Additionally, administrators should review and tighten portal access settings, particularly disabling the 'Anyone can email the service desk or raise a request in the portal' option when possible. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, as attackers can leverage the bypass to access information they would normally be restricted from viewing. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and reduce the window of exposure for such vulnerabilities.