CVE-2023-26256: Stagil Navigation Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2023-26256 Overview

CVE-2023-26256 is an unauthenticated path traversal vulnerability affecting the "STAGIL Navigation for Jira - Menu & Themes" plugin before version 2.0.52 for Jira. By manipulating the fileName parameter sent to the snjFooterNavigationConfig endpoint, an unauthenticated attacker can traverse the file system and read arbitrary files from the server hosting the Jira instance.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to read sensitive files from Jira servers, potentially exposing configuration files, credentials, and other confidential data without requiring any authentication.

Affected Products

• STAGIL Navigation for Jira - Menu & Themes versions prior to 2.0.52
• Jira Server instances running vulnerable plugin versions
• Jira Data Center instances running vulnerable plugin versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2023-02-28 - CVE-2023-26256 published to NVD
• 2025-03-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-26256

Vulnerability Analysis

This path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) exists in the snjFooterNavigationConfig endpoint of the STAGIL Navigation plugin. The endpoint accepts a fileName parameter that is not properly sanitized, allowing attackers to use directory traversal sequences (such as ../) to escape the intended directory and access arbitrary files on the underlying file system.

The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication, meaning any network-accessible Jira instance running the vulnerable plugin can be exploited by remote attackers. The attack can be executed with low complexity and requires no user interaction, making it highly exploitable in real-world scenarios.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation in the snjFooterNavigationConfig endpoint. The fileName parameter is directly used to construct file paths without adequate sanitization to prevent directory traversal sequences. This allows attackers to break out of the expected directory context and traverse to sensitive locations on the file system.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and can be executed remotely without any authentication. An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the snjFooterNavigationConfig endpoint with a manipulated fileName parameter containing path traversal sequences. The server processes this request and returns the contents of the specified file.

For example, an attacker could craft a request to the vulnerable endpoint with a fileName parameter such as ../../../../etc/passwd to read system files on Linux servers, or target Jira-specific configuration files containing database credentials and other sensitive information. Technical details and proof-of-concept information can be found in the GitHub CVE Documentation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-26256

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to /rest/snjFooterNavigationConfig or similar plugin endpoints containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2F, %2e%2e/)
• Web server logs showing unusual file access patterns or requests for sensitive system files
• Requests with fileName parameters containing directory traversal characters or encoded variants
• Abnormal access to Jira plugin REST endpoints from external or unauthorized IP addresses

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in request parameters
• Monitor access logs for requests to STAGIL Navigation plugin endpoints with suspicious fileName parameter values
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) signatures targeting directory traversal attack patterns
• Review Jira access logs for authentication bypass attempts or unauthorized file access patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all Jira plugin REST API endpoints and regularly review logs for anomalies
• Configure alerting for requests containing encoded directory traversal sequences targeting plugin endpoints
• Monitor for unusual outbound data transfers that could indicate successful file exfiltration
• Implement file integrity monitoring on sensitive configuration files to detect unauthorized access

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-26256

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the STAGIL Navigation for Jira - Menu & Themes plugin to version 2.0.52 or later immediately
• Audit Jira server logs for any evidence of exploitation attempts targeting the snjFooterNavigationConfig endpoint
• If unable to update immediately, consider temporarily disabling the STAGIL Navigation plugin until patching is possible
• Review system and application logs for any signs of unauthorized file access

Patch Information

The vulnerability is addressed in STAGIL Navigation for Jira - Menu & Themes version 2.0.52 and later. Organizations should update to the latest available version through the Atlassian Marketplace. After updating, verify the plugin version in Jira's administration panel to confirm the patch has been successfully applied.

Workarounds

• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, %2e%2e) targeting STAGIL plugin endpoints
• Restrict network access to Jira instances to trusted IP ranges where possible
• Consider disabling the STAGIL Navigation plugin entirely if it is not critical to operations until patching can be completed
• Apply additional access controls at the reverse proxy level to filter malicious requests before they reach Jira

# Example WAF rule to block path traversal attempts (ModSecurity syntax)
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains snjFooterNavigationConfig" \
    "id:1001,phase:1,deny,status:403,msg:'Blocked STAGIL plugin access',\
    chain"
SecRule ARGS:fileName "@rx (\.\./|\.\.%2[fF]|%2[eE]%2[eE])" \
    "t:urlDecodeUni"