CVE-2019-3401 in JIRA
Summary
by MITRE
The ManageFilters.jspa resource in Jira before version 7.13.3 and from version 8.0.0 before version 8.1.1 allows remote attackers to enumerate usernames via an incorrect authorisation check.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3401 represents a critical authorization flaw within Atlassian Jira's web interface, specifically affecting the ManageFilters.jspa resource. This issue stems from an improper access control mechanism that fails to adequately verify user permissions before exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability impacts Jira versions prior to 7.13.3 and affects versions 8.0.0 through 8.1.0, creating a window of exposure where malicious actors can exploit the flawed authorization logic to gain unauthorized access to user enumeration capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific authorization check failure that allows remote attackers to bypass normal access controls. When an attacker makes requests to the ManageFilters.jspa endpoint, the system fails to properly validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to access the username enumeration functionality. This misconfiguration enables unauthorized users to discover valid usernames within the Jira instance without proper authentication or authorization. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited over network connections without requiring special privileges or access credentials beyond basic network connectivity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as username enumeration can serve as a foundational step for more sophisticated attack vectors. Attackers can leverage the exposed usernames to conduct targeted credential stuffing attacks, brute force attempts, or social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw provides attackers with a low-effort method to gather intelligence about valid user accounts, which can then be used to target specific individuals or systematically test credentials across the organization.
Organizations utilizing affected Jira versions face significant security risks as this vulnerability can be exploited by threat actors without requiring elevated privileges or specialized tools. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Jira is widely deployed across enterprise environments for issue tracking and project management, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to gain initial access or expand their foothold within networks. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple version lines indicates a fundamental flaw in the authorization implementation that required patching across both the 7.x and 8.x release branches, highlighting the severity and widespread nature of the issue.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of patched Jira versions, specifically upgrading to Jira 7.13.3 or 8.1.1 and later, which contain the necessary authorization fixes. Organizations should also implement network-level controls and monitoring to detect anomalous access patterns to the ManageFilters.jspa endpoint. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their Jira configurations to ensure proper access controls are in place and consider implementing additional authentication measures such as multi-factor authentication. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authorization checking and access control validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive organizational data and user credentials. This flaw underscores the necessity of regular security assessments and timely patch management to prevent exploitation of authorization bypass vulnerabilities that can significantly compromise organizational security postures.