CVE-2023-22501: Jira Service Management Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2023-22501 Overview

An authentication bypass vulnerability was discovered in Atlassian Jira Service Management Server and Data Center that allows an attacker to impersonate another user and gain unauthorized access to a Jira Service Management instance. This vulnerability enables attackers with write access to a User Directory to obtain signup tokens intended for users whose accounts have never been logged into, effectively allowing account takeover without proper authentication.

The attack is facilitated when outgoing email is enabled on the Jira Service Management instance. Attackers can obtain access to signup tokens through two primary methods: being included on Jira issues or requests with the target users, or gaining access to emails containing "View Request" links through forwarding or other means. Bot accounts are particularly vulnerable to this attack scenario due to their automated nature and often unused login credentials.

Critical Impact
This authentication bypass vulnerability allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to Jira Service Management instances, potentially exposing sensitive service desk data, customer information, and internal workflows.

Affected Products

Atlassian Jira Service Management Server
Atlassian Jira Service Management Data Center
Atlassian Jira Service Management version 5.5.0

Discovery Timeline

February 1, 2023 - CVE-2023-22501 published to NVD
November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-22501

Vulnerability Analysis

This authentication bypass vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) stems from a flaw in how Jira Service Management handles user signup tokens. The vulnerability allows an attacker to intercept or obtain signup tokens that are sent to users who have never logged into their accounts. This is particularly dangerous because it bypasses the normal authentication flow entirely, allowing attackers to complete the account setup process on behalf of legitimate users.

On instances configured with single sign-on (SSO), external customer accounts can be affected in projects where self-service account creation is enabled. The vulnerability's network attack vector means it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access to the target system.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2023-22501 lies in improper authentication token handling within Jira Service Management's user provisioning workflow. Specifically, signup tokens are accessible to users who should not have visibility into them. When an attacker has write access to a User Directory and can either be included on Jira issues with target users or intercept email communications, they can obtain these tokens before the legitimate account owner activates their account.

The vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that bot accounts frequently have accounts created but never logged into, making them prime targets for this attack. The design flaw allows tokens to persist and remain valid even when exposed to unauthorized parties.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability requires the following conditions:

Write access to a User Directory - The attacker must have some level of access to the Jira Service Management instance
Outgoing email enabled - The instance must have email functionality configured
Target accounts never logged in - The vulnerability only affects accounts that have never been authenticated

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability through two scenarios:

Scenario 1: Issue/Request Inclusion - If the attacker is included on Jira issues or requests alongside users with dormant accounts, they can gain visibility into signup tokens associated with those users.

Scenario 2: Email Interception - If the attacker gains access to emails containing "View Request" links (through forwarding, email compromise, or social engineering), they can extract the signup tokens from these communications.

Once a signup token is obtained, the attacker can complete the account activation process, effectively impersonating the legitimate user and gaining full access to their permissions within Jira Service Management.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-22501

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected account activations for users who should not have logged in, particularly bot accounts or service accounts
Multiple account activations occurring from unusual IP addresses or geographic locations
Audit logs showing user account completions without corresponding legitimate user activity
Suspicious "View Request" email forwarding patterns in email server logs

Detection Strategies

Monitor Jira Service Management audit logs for account activation events, particularly for accounts that have been dormant or are designated as bot accounts
Implement alerting for multiple failed or successful account activations occurring in rapid succession
Review User Directory access logs for unauthorized write operations or unusual access patterns
Cross-reference account activation times with known user activity to identify anomalies

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable comprehensive audit logging in Jira Service Management to track all authentication-related events
Configure SIEM alerts for unusual patterns in account creation and activation workflows
Monitor email server logs for suspicious forwarding rules or access to emails containing Jira signup tokens
Regularly audit the list of accounts that have never been logged into and assess their necessity

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-22501

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Jira Service Management Server and Data Center to the latest patched version immediately
Review and audit all accounts that have never been logged into, particularly bot accounts and service accounts
Disable or remove unnecessary bot accounts and service accounts that are not actively used
Implement additional access controls on User Directory write permissions
Review email forwarding rules and access to emails containing Jira Service Management links

Patch Information

Atlassian has released security patches to address this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the Atlassian Security Advisory JSDSERVER-12312 for specific version information and upgrade instructions. Apply the latest security updates for Jira Service Management Server and Data Center as soon as possible.

Workarounds

Disable outgoing email functionality temporarily if immediate patching is not possible (note: this will impact normal Jira Service Management operations)
Restrict User Directory write access to only essential administrative personnel
Implement network-level access controls to limit who can access the Jira Service Management instance
Force activation or disable all accounts that have never been logged into, particularly those created for bot or service purposes
Enable SSO with strong authentication requirements to add an additional layer of protection

bash

# Review accounts that have never logged in (example database query for investigation)
# Consult Atlassian documentation for your specific database backend
# This query should be run by database administrators only

# After patching, verify the installed version
# Check Jira Service Management version in Administration > System Info