CVE-2020-36237 in JIRA Server
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2021
Affected versions of Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center allow unauthenticated remote attackers to view custom field options via an Information Disclosure vulnerability in the /rest/api/2/customFieldOption/ endpoint. The affected versions are before version 8.15.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-36237 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center platforms. This security weakness affects versions prior to 8.15.0 and exposes sensitive data through an improperly secured REST API endpoint. The vulnerability specifically targets the /rest/api/2/customFieldOption/ endpoint which is designed to manage and retrieve custom field options within the Jira environment. Attackers can exploit this flaw without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses standard access controls and authorization mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control enforcement within the custom field option handling mechanism. When an attacker makes a request to the vulnerable endpoint, the system fails to properly verify whether the requester has legitimate authorization to access specific custom field options. This weakness allows unauthorized parties to enumerate and retrieve configuration data that should typically be restricted to authenticated users with appropriate permissions. The flaw falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-285, where the system does not properly restrict access to protected resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing affected Jira versions. The disclosure of custom field options can potentially reveal sensitive business data, internal process configurations, or system architecture details that attackers could leverage for further exploitation. Custom field configurations often contain information about business workflows, user roles, project structures, and other organizational data that could be valuable for social engineering attacks or advanced persistent threat campaigns. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as this data could provide attackers with insights into the organization's operational procedures and system dependencies.
The vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to reconnaissance and credential access phases. Attackers can use this information to map out the target environment and identify potential attack vectors for subsequent exploitation attempts. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation means that this vulnerability can be leveraged by anyone with network access to the affected system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Jira instances are exposed to untrusted networks or the internet.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center version 8.15.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to the affected endpoints, configuring firewalls to block unauthorized access attempts, and monitoring for suspicious activity around the /rest/api/2/customFieldOption/ endpoint. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of custom field configurations to identify any sensitive data that may have been exposed and implement proper access controls to prevent future incidents. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust access control mechanisms for all API endpoints within enterprise systems.