CVE-2019-20403 in JIRA Server
Summary
by MITRE
The API in Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center before version 8.6.0 allows remote attackers to determine if a Jira project key exists or not via an information disclosure vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20403 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center platforms prior to version 8.6.0. This security weakness resides in the application programming interface component that governs how external systems interact with Jira's core functionality. The vulnerability specifically enables remote attackers to perform reconnaissance activities by determining the existence of particular Jira project keys through crafted API requests. Such information disclosure capabilities fundamentally compromise the confidentiality of project structures and organizational data within Jira environments, as attackers can systematically identify valid project identifiers without requiring authentication or authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and response handling within Jira's API endpoints. When legitimate API requests are made to check for project existence, the system provides different response patterns or error messages depending on whether the requested project key actually exists within the database. This differential response behavior creates a side-channel information leak that attackers can exploit through automated scanning tools or manual testing procedures. The flaw operates at the application layer and requires no privileged access or authentication credentials to be leveraged effectively. Security researchers have classified this issue under CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure through improper error handling and response differentiation. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in how the API handles project existence queries, creating predictable response patterns that reveal sensitive organizational information.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Jira Server and Data Center platforms. Attackers can systematically enumerate project keys across multiple Jira instances to build comprehensive maps of organizational structures, identify sensitive projects, and potentially target high-value assets. The disclosure of project key information enables more sophisticated attack vectors including targeted phishing campaigns, social engineering efforts, and subsequent exploitation of other vulnerabilities within identified projects. Organizations may inadvertently expose proprietary project information, internal team structures, and business-critical data that should remain confidential. The impact extends beyond immediate information disclosure as it provides attackers with intelligence for planning more complex attacks against the organization's Jira infrastructure and associated systems. This vulnerability directly affects the principle of least privilege and confidentiality within information security frameworks, as it allows unauthorized parties to gain insights into organizational data architecture and project management practices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20403 primarily involve upgrading affected Jira Server and Data Center installations to version 8.6.0 or later, which includes patched API response handling mechanisms that eliminate the information disclosure behavior. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as rate limiting and API access restrictions to minimize the effectiveness of automated enumeration attacks. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their Jira configurations to ensure that API endpoints are properly secured and that unnecessary information is not exposed through error responses. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of API access patterns can help detect suspicious enumeration activities and potential exploitation attempts. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which focuses on data from information repositories, specifically highlighting the importance of securing API endpoints that provide access to organizational data structures. Organizations should also consider implementing application firewalls or API gateways that can normalize responses and prevent information leakage through API interactions. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of Jira installations remain essential practices to identify and remediate similar weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors.