CVE-2021-43952 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

CVE-2021-43952 was published on 2022-01-06 and affects Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center versions prior to 8.21.0 through a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to restore default configuration.

Understanding CVE-2021-43952

What is CVE-2021-43952?

Affected Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center versions enable unauthenticated remote attackers to manipulate field configurations through a CSRF vulnerability.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43952

The vulnerability permits attackers to reset field configurations on vulnerable systems without authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or modifications.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43952

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in a CSRF vulnerability in the /secure/admin/RestoreDefaults.jspa endpoint, allowing attackers to reset field configurations.

Affected Systems and Versions

Atlassian Jira Server versions before 8.21.0
Atlassian Jira Data Center versions before 8.21.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the CSRF vulnerability to send unauthorized requests to the affected endpoints, leading to the restoration of default configurations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center to version 8.21.0 or higher.
Implement strict access controls to limit unauthorized access to the affected endpoints.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for any unusual or unauthorized configuration changes.
Educate users on the importance of CSRF protection and safe browsing practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply all security updates and patches released by Atlassian to address the CSRF vulnerability.