CVE-2019-20902 in JIRA
Summary
by MITRE • 10/04/2020
Upgrading Crowd via XML Data Transfer can reactivate a disabled user from OpenLDAP. The affected versions are from before version 3.4.6 and from 3.5.0 before 3.5.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2020
This vulnerability exists in Atlassian Crowd authentication system where improper handling of XML data transfer during upgrade processes can inadvertently re-enable disabled users from OpenLDAP directories. The flaw occurs when Crowd processes XML import files containing user data, specifically affecting the user account state management during migration or upgrade operations. When users are disabled in the OpenLDAP directory, the XML data transfer process fails to properly maintain this disabled state, resulting in automatic reactivation of accounts that should remain inactive. This represents a critical security regression affecting versions prior to 3.4.6 and 3.5.1, where the user state synchronization mechanism was not properly implemented during XML data import operations. The vulnerability allows for unauthorized account reactivation, potentially enabling attackers to regain access to accounts that were intentionally disabled for security reasons. This issue directly impacts the principle of least privilege and account lifecycle management within enterprise authentication systems. The technical root cause involves inadequate state preservation during XML data processing, where disabled user flags are not properly maintained or transferred from the source LDAP directory to the Crowd system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and specifically relates to improper privilege management during authentication state transitions. From an operational perspective, this flaw can be exploited by attackers who gain access to the XML import functionality or by malicious insiders with appropriate privileges to manipulate the upgrade process. The impact extends beyond simple account reactivation as it undermines the integrity of user access controls and can facilitate privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it enables the reuse of legitimate accounts that should have been disabled. Organizations relying on Crowd for user management and OpenLDAP for directory services face significant risk when this vulnerability exists in their environment, particularly in regulated industries where account access controls are critical. The issue demonstrates poor input validation and state management in the XML import process, where the system fails to properly validate and preserve user account status information. Security teams should treat this as a high-priority remediation due to the potential for unauthorized access and the violation of account management policies. The fix implemented in versions 3.4.6 and 3.5.1 addresses the core issue by ensuring proper state preservation during XML data transfer operations, maintaining the disabled status of users from external directories. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper account lifecycle management in centralized authentication systems and the need for comprehensive testing of upgrade and migration processes. Organizations should conduct immediate assessments of their Crowd installations to identify affected versions and implement the necessary patches to prevent unauthorized account reactivation. The vulnerability also underscores the risks associated with automated account management processes and the need for robust validation of user state information during system transitions. Proper testing of XML import functionality and user state preservation should be included in security review processes for authentication system upgrades.