CVE-2019-18367 in TeamCity
Summary
by MITRE
In JetBrains TeamCity before 2019.1.2, a non-destructive operation could be performed by a user without the corresponding permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-18367 affects JetBrains TeamCity versions prior to 2019.1.2 and represents a significant authorization bypass issue that undermines the security model of the continuous integration and deployment platform. This weakness allows authenticated users to perform operations that should require specific permissions, creating a scenario where users can access or manipulate system resources beyond their designated access levels. The vulnerability specifically impacts the permission validation mechanisms within TeamCity's administrative and operational interfaces, potentially enabling unauthorized actions that could compromise system integrity and data confidentiality.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient validation of user permissions during non-destructive operations within the TeamCity platform. This authorization bypass occurs when the system fails to properly verify whether a user possesses the necessary privileges before executing certain actions, even though these operations might appear benign or non-destructive in nature. The vulnerability stems from improper access control implementation where the platform does not adequately enforce role-based access controls for various operational functions. This weakness is particularly concerning because it affects operations that, while labeled as non-destructive, could still provide attackers with valuable information or enable them to perform actions that could lead to more serious security compromises. The flaw essentially allows users to escalate their privileges or access restricted functionality through legitimate system operations that should be protected by proper authentication checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to gather sensitive information about the system configuration, build processes, and project structures. An attacker with low-privilege access could exploit this vulnerability to discover system vulnerabilities, access restricted project data, or manipulate build configurations in ways that could affect the integrity of the continuous integration pipeline. This authorization bypass could also facilitate further attacks by providing attackers with insights into system architecture and access patterns that would otherwise be restricted. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where TeamCity serves as a central hub for software development processes, as it could enable attackers to compromise the entire build and deployment infrastructure. The affected environment could experience data exposure, unauthorized modifications to build processes, and potential disruption of critical development workflows that rely on TeamCity for automated testing and deployment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-18367 primarily involve upgrading to JetBrains TeamCity version 2019.1.2 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the authorization bypass vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive access control reviews to ensure that user permissions are properly configured and aligned with the principle of least privilege. Security teams should conduct regular audits of system access logs to detect any anomalous activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authorization issues within the TeamCity environment and other critical systems.