CVE-2019-20400 : What You Need to Know

Jira Server versions prior to 8.5.2 are vulnerable to a DLL hijacking exploit through Tomcat usage.

Understanding CVE-2019-20400

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Jira Server that allows local attackers to inject code through DLL hijacking.

What is CVE-2019-20400?

The vulnerability in Jira Server versions before 8.5.2 enables local attackers to write a dll file to a directory in the global path environmental variable, leading to code injection via DLL hijacking.

The Impact of CVE-2019-20400

The exploit could allow unauthorized local attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected system, potentially leading to further compromise or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-20400

Vulnerability Description

Jira Server versions prior to 8.5.2 are susceptible to a DLL hijacking vulnerability due to improper handling of Tomcat, allowing attackers to inject malicious code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Jira Server
Vendor: Atlassian
Versions Affected: < 8.5.2 (unspecified version type: custom)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with local access and permission to write a dll file to a specific directory can exploit the global path environmental variable to inject malicious code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Jira Server to version 8.5.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Restrict access permissions to critical directories to prevent unauthorized file writing.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit file system changes and permissions.
Implement least privilege principles to limit the impact of potential exploits.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Atlassian to address the DLL hijacking vulnerability in Jira Server.