CVE-2019-20406 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Confluence's utilization of Tomcat on the Microsoft Windows operating system, prior to version 7.0.5 and between version 7.1.0 and version 7.1.1, enables local system assailants with DLL file writing authorization in a directory included in the global path environmental variable to elevate their privileges and inject code via a vulnerability known as DLL hijacking.

Understanding CVE-2019-20406

Confluence Data Center by Atlassian is affected by a DLL hijacking vulnerability that allows attackers to escalate privileges and inject malicious code.

What is CVE-2019-20406?

The vulnerability in Confluence Data Center allows local system attackers to exploit DLL hijacking on Windows OS, enabling privilege escalation and code injection.

The Impact of CVE-2019-20406

The vulnerability permits attackers to elevate privileges and execute arbitrary code, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-20406

Confluence Data Center's vulnerability involves the following technical aspects:

Vulnerability Description

DLL hijacking vulnerability in Confluence Data Center

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Confluence Data Center
Vendor: Atlassian
Vulnerable Versions:
Versions less than 7.0.5
Versions between 7.1.0 and 7.1.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with DLL file writing permissions in a directory in the global path environmental variable can exploit the vulnerability to inject malicious code and escalate privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-20406, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Confluence Data Center to a non-vulnerable version
Restrict access to directories with DLL writing permissions

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit DLL files and permissions
Implement least privilege access controls

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Atlassian for Confluence Data Center