CVE-2024-28230 in YouTrack
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2024
In JetBrains YouTrack before 2024.1.25893 attaching/detaching workflow to a project was possible without project admin permissions
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
This vulnerability exists in JetBrains YouTrack versions prior to 2024.1.25893 where the access control mechanism for workflow management lacks proper authorization checks. The flaw allows unauthorized users to manipulate workflow attachments and detachments from projects without possessing administrative privileges typically required for such operations. This represents a significant privilege escalation vulnerability that undermines the application's security model and access control framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient permission validation within the workflow management subsystem. When users attempt to attach or detach workflows to/from projects, the system fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses adequate administrative rights. This omission creates a direct path for malicious actors or compromised accounts to modify project workflows without proper authorization, potentially leading to unauthorized changes in project behavior and process automation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access. Attackers could manipulate workflow configurations to bypass critical business processes, introduce malicious automation, or disrupt normal project operations. This capability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on YouTrack for issue tracking and workflow automation, as it could enable attackers to modify project-specific workflows that govern ticket assignment, status transitions, and automated notifications. The vulnerability also presents a risk for privilege escalation attacks where users might leverage workflow manipulation to gain further access to restricted project features.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization in software systems. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and represents a common security weakness in access control implementations. Organizations using YouTrack should immediately apply the patch released in version 2024.1.25893 which addresses the missing authorization checks in workflow management operations. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for unauthorized workflow modifications and reviewing user permissions to ensure that only authorized administrators can perform workflow operations. Additionally, this vulnerability may be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors as described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple security controls are present but this specific authorization bypass exists.