CVE-2022-28650 in YouTrack
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2022
In JetBrains YouTrack before 2022.1.43700 it was possible to inject JavaScript into Markdown in the YouTrack Classic UI
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2022
This vulnerability exists in JetBrains YouTrack versions prior to 2022.1.43700 where the application fails to properly sanitize user input when processing Markdown content within the Classic UI interface. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through carefully crafted Markdown syntax that bypasses the application's security controls. This represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs when user-supplied content containing unescaped JavaScript is rendered back to other users without proper sanitization. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Markdown rendering engine, which processes user-generated content without adequately escaping special characters that could be interpreted as executable code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a Markdown document containing JavaScript payload within elements such as image tags or link references that are then rendered in the YouTrack interface. When other users view the affected Markdown content, the embedded JavaScript executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This vulnerability specifically affects the Classic UI rendering pipeline where Markdown content is processed and displayed, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared documentation and issue tracking data. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the application's security architecture to properly handle untrusted input during the content rendering process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS attacks as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including credential harvesting, session manipulation, and data exfiltration from authenticated users. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive project information, manipulate issue tracking data, or establish persistent access through stolen session tokens. Organizations using YouTrack for collaborative development and project management face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited through simple Markdown injection without requiring advanced attack techniques. The vulnerability affects all users who can create or modify Markdown content within the application, making it particularly dangerous in environments with open contribution policies or limited user access controls. This weakness directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to version 2022.1.43700 or later where JetBrains has implemented proper input sanitization and output encoding for Markdown content. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as content security policies that restrict script execution within the application environment, regular security scanning of user-generated content, and enhanced monitoring for suspicious Markdown patterns. Network-level defenses including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional protection by detecting and blocking known malicious payload patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable YouTrack versions and ensure proper patch management processes are in place. The fix implemented by JetBrains addresses the root cause by strengthening the Markdown parsing logic to properly escape JavaScript characters and prevent their execution during content rendering, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1213 for credential access and T1566 for social engineering through malicious content delivery.