CVE-2017-18113 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2017-18113, published on August 2, 2021, addresses a security vulnerability in Jira Server and Jira Data Center versions prior to 8.18.1. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a Remote Code Execution (RCE) exploit.

Understanding CVE-2017-18113

This CVE pertains to a security flaw in the DefaultOSWorkflowConfigurator class in Jira Server and Jira Data Center.

What is CVE-2017-18113?

The vulnerability in the DefaultOSWorkflowConfigurator class could be exploited by deceiving a system administrator into importing a malicious workflow. This could lead to the execution of arbitrary code, resulting in an RCE vulnerability.

The Impact of CVE-2017-18113

The vulnerability allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code by leveraging problematic classes from OSWorkflow as part of workflows. The fix implemented prevents the use of unsafe conditions, validators, functions, and registers embedded in the OSWorkflow library and other Jira dependencies.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-18113

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The DefaultOSWorkflowConfigurator class in Jira Server and Jira Data Center before version 8.18.1 allowed remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an RCE vulnerability.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Jira Server
Vendor: Atlassian
Versions Affected: Less than 8.18.1
Product: Jira Data Center
Vendor: Atlassian
Versions Affected: Less than 8.18.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by tricking a system administrator into importing a malicious workflow, enabling the execution of arbitrary code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-18113 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Jira Server and Jira Data Center to version 8.18.1 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Educate system administrators about the risks of importing workflows from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Jira installations to ensure the latest security fixes are in place.
Implement security training for system administrators to recognize and avoid potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Atlassian promptly to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.