CVE-2024-50581 in YouTrack
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2024
In JetBrains YouTrack before 2024.3.47707 improper HTML sanitization could lead to XSS attack via comment tag
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-50581 affects JetBrains YouTrack versions prior to 2024.3.47707 and represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness stemming from inadequate HTML sanitization mechanisms. This flaw specifically manifests when processing comment tags within the application's user interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts that can execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, particularly when comment elements contain potentially dangerous HTML content. This issue falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security concern that has been extensively documented in industry security frameworks. The improper sanitization process allows attackers to bypass security controls designed to prevent malicious code execution, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on YouTrack for issue tracking and collaboration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's handling of HTML content within comment fields, where user inputs containing script tags or other malicious HTML constructs are not adequately filtered or escaped before being rendered to end users. When a malicious user submits a comment containing crafted HTML that includes JavaScript code, the insufficient sanitization allows this code to persist and execute when other users view the affected comments. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers spearphishing with attachments, as the vulnerability can be leveraged through crafted comment content to deliver malicious payloads. The flaw demonstrates a classic insufficient input validation issue where the application assumes that user input will be benign and fails to implement proper output encoding or content security policies to prevent script execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared comment systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-50581 extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential data breaches, privilege escalation, and persistent security threats within organizations using vulnerable YouTrack installations. When exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive project information, manipulate issue tracking data, or establish persistent backdoors through stolen session tokens. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of YouTrack's commenting system, which is fundamental to project collaboration and issue management, potentially compromising the integrity of entire development workflows. Organizations relying on YouTrack for bug tracking, project management, and team collaboration face significant risk when operating vulnerable versions, as the attack surface includes all users who can create or view comments. The vulnerability also poses challenges for compliance with security standards such as those outlined in ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, as it represents a failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding controls that are essential for maintaining application security. Given that YouTrack is widely used in software development environments, the potential for cascading security impacts across development teams and organizations makes this vulnerability particularly concerning from both operational and strategic security perspectives.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to JetBrains YouTrack version 2024.3.47707 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as this specific patch addresses the HTML sanitization flaws that enable the XSS attack vector. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including content security policy headers, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security assessments of web applications. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the upgrade does not introduce compatibility issues with existing workflows or integrations. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability scans to identify any instances of the vulnerable version within their infrastructure and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review their existing security controls and consider implementing additional layers of protection such as web application firewalls, input sanitization libraries, and regular security training for users to recognize potential social engineering attempts that might exploit this vulnerability. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper HTML sanitization routines that properly escape or remove potentially dangerous content before rendering user-generated comments, thereby preventing the execution of malicious scripts in user browsers.