CVE-2021-30482 in Upsource
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2021
In JetBrains UpSource before 2020.1.1883, application passwords were not revoked correctly
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-30482 affects JetBrains UpSource versions prior to 2020.1.1883, representing a critical security flaw in the application's authentication management system. This issue specifically targets the revocation mechanism for application passwords, which are typically used to provide secure access to applications without requiring users to share their primary credentials. The flaw exists within the software's access control implementation and directly impacts the integrity of the authentication framework by failing to properly invalidate application-specific passwords when they should be revoked.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of credential lifecycle management within the JetBrains UpSource platform. When users generate application passwords for third-party integrations or automated processes, the system should ensure that these temporary credentials are properly invalidated when the user account is deactivated, modified, or when security policies require revocation. However, the flaw allows these application passwords to remain active even after they should have been revoked, creating a persistent security risk that undermines the principle of least privilege and secure credential management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on JetBrains UpSource for code review and collaboration management. Attackers who gain access to valid application passwords could maintain unauthorized access to the system long after legitimate revocation should have occurred. This creates potential for extended persistence within the environment, allowing malicious actors to continue accessing code repositories, review systems, and related development infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations with strict security policies regarding credential management and access control, as it undermines their ability to effectively manage and revoke access to their development environments.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses inadequate handling of persistent authentication tokens, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers "Modify Authentication Process". Organizations should immediately implement the available patch for JetBrains UpSource version 2020.1.1883 or later to resolve this issue. Additional mitigations include implementing strict access control policies, regularly auditing active application passwords, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for critical development environments and establishing automated processes to regularly review and invalidate unused application credentials. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper credential lifecycle management in enterprise development platforms and highlights the need for continuous security assessment of authentication mechanisms in collaborative software environments.