CVE-2019-8446 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In August 2019, a vulnerability was discovered in Atlassian's Jira software that could allow remote attackers to obtain a list of usernames through a faulty authorization check.

Understanding CVE-2019-8446

What is CVE-2019-8446?

The vulnerability in Jira's /rest/issueNav/1/issueTable resource, before version 8.3.2, enables remote attackers to exploit a faulty authorization check to access usernames.

The Impact of CVE-2019-8446

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive user information, potentially compromising user privacy and system security.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-8446

Vulnerability Description

The /rest/issueNav/1/issueTable resource in Jira, pre-version 8.3.2, allows remote attackers to enumerate usernames due to an incorrect authorization check.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Jira
Vendor: Atlassian
Versions Affected: < 8.3.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to retrieve a list of usernames by bypassing the faulty authorization check.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Jira to version 8.3.2 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or suspicious activities related to user information.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update authorization mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential security gaps.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Atlassian to ensure the latest security measures are in place.