CVE-2021-43952 in JIRA Server
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2022
Affected versions of Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center allow unauthenticated remote attackers to restore the default configuration of fields via a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the /secure/admin/RestoreDefaults.jspa endpoint. The affected versions are before version 8.21.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2022
This vulnerability resides in Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center versions prior to 8.21.0, where an unauthenticated attacker can exploit a cross-site request forgery flaw to restore the default configuration of fields through the /secure/admin/RestoreDefaults.jspa endpoint. The vulnerability stems from insufficient anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the administrative interface, allowing malicious actors to trick users into performing unintended administrative actions without proper authentication. This represents a critical security weakness that directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper access controls as defined by security frameworks such as those outlined in CWE-352. The flaw specifically affects the administrative restoration functionality that should typically require authenticated access and proper authorization checks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious request that, when executed by an authenticated user, triggers the restoration of default field configurations. This process can potentially reset custom field settings, workflow configurations, and other administrative parameters that have been customized by the organization. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it does not require authentication to initiate the attack, making it accessible to any remote user who can interact with the vulnerable Jira instance. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in implementing proper CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized requests from being processed by administrative endpoints, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 related to data from information repositories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration resets, as it can disrupt business processes that depend on customized field configurations, potentially affecting issue tracking workflows, reporting capabilities, and overall system functionality. Organizations may experience data inconsistencies, loss of customizations, and potential service disruptions that could impact productivity and compliance requirements. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to perform administrative actions that could compromise the integrity of the issue tracking system and potentially provide a foothold for further attacks. Recovery from such an attack may require significant time and resources to reconfigure systems and restore proper field settings, while also potentially exposing sensitive data that may have been exposed during the attack window. Organizations should consider implementing immediate mitigations including upgrading to version 8.21.0 or later, implementing additional access controls, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper session management and CSRF protection mechanisms in web applications, particularly for administrative interfaces that handle sensitive system configurations.