Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center Remote Code Execution (RCE) Vulnerability (CVE-2019-11581) Security Advisory
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTJira Server and Data Center versions from 4.4.0 before 7.6.14, 7.7.0 before 7.13.5, 8.0.0 before 8.0.3, 8.1.0 before 8.1.2, and 8.2.0 before 8.2.3
Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit the email template rendering logic to execute arbitrary system commands, leading to full system compromise
Immediately upgrade Jira Server and Data Center to the patched versions (7.6.14, 7.13.5, 8.0.3, 8.1.2, 8.2.3 or later)
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
The primary remediation is upgrading Jira to a secure, patched release. Below are the commands to back up your current installation and prepare for the upgrade on a Linux environment.
# 1. Back up Jira Home and Installation directories
tar -czvf jira_home_backup.tar.gz /var/atlassian/application-data/jira
tar -czvf jira_install_backup.tar.gz /opt/atlassian/jira
# 2. Download the secure Jira Software installer (e.g., LTS version 8.20.10)
wget https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/downloads/binary/atlassian-jira-software-8.20.10-x64.bin
chmod +x atlassian-jira-software-8.20.10-x64.bin
# 3. Execute the installer to perform the upgrade
sudo ./atlassian-jira-software-8.20.10-x64.bin2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, block external access to the vulnerable endpoints using a reverse proxy or web application firewall (WAF).
# Nginx configuration block to block access to vulnerable Jira endpoints
server {
listen 80;
server_name jira.company.local;
# Block ContactAdministrators action
location ~* /Secure/ContactAdministrators {
deny all;
return 403;
}
# Block SendBulkMail action
location ~* /Secure/SendBulkMail {
deny all;
return 403;
}
location / {
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8080;
}
}3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Inspect Jira access logs to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoints and containing Velocity template payloads.
# Search access logs for requests to the vulnerable endpoints
grep -Ei 'ContactAdministrators|SendBulkMail' /opt/atlassian/jira/logs/atlassian-jira-http-access*.log
# Search for common SSTI payload patterns and Java runtime execution attempts in the logs
grep -Ei '\$i18n|class\.forName|java\.lang\.Runtime' /opt/atlassian/jira/logs/atlassian-jira-http-access*.logBlock Exploits Instantly with Managed Virtual Patching Rules
Can't patch production immediately? Deploy managed WAF rules at the edge to intercept RCE, SQLi, and deserialization payloads before they hit your origin server.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability is a Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI) vulnerability in Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center, specifically within the 'ContactAdministrators' and 'SendBulkMail' actions. The root cause lies in the improper validation of user-supplied input before passing it to the Velocity template engine. When rendering email templates, Jira dynamically evaluates input parameters without proper sandboxing, allowing template directives to be executed.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability if the 'Contact Administrators' form or bulk mailing features are enabled. By sending a crafted HTTP POST request containing malicious Velocity template syntax (e.g., leveraging $i18n.getClass().forName(...) to access Java runtime classes) to the vulnerable endpoints, the attacker forces the Velocity engine to compile and execute the payload. This results in arbitrary OS command execution under the context of the Jira service user account.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
With a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical) and its inclusion in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, this vulnerability poses an extreme risk to enterprise infrastructure. Successful exploitation allows complete takeover of the Jira application server, enabling attackers to exfiltrate proprietary source code, sensitive issue tracking data, and user credentials, or use the compromised server as a pivot point for lateral movement within the internal network.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
There was a server-side template injection vulnerability in Jira Server and Data Center, in the ContactAdministrators and the SendBulkMail actions. An attacker is able to remotely execute code on systems that run a vulnerable version of Jira Server or Data Center. All versions of Jira Server and Data Center from 4.4.0 before 7.6.14, from 7.7.0 before 7.13.5, from 8.0.0 before 8.0.3, from 8.1.0 before 8.1.2, and from 8.2.0 before 8.2.3 are affected by this vulnerability.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2019-11581)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2019-11581 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2019-11581 is rated CVSS 9.8 (CRITICAL) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 84.6%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2019-11581?
Primary impacted vendors include atlassian across jira_server, jira_data_center. Scope summary: Jira Server and Data Center: 4.4.0 to < 7.6.14, 7.7.0 to < 7.13.5, 8.0.0 to < 8.0.3, 8.1.0 to < 8.1.2, and 8.2.0 to < 8.2.3
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2019-11581 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately upgrade Jira Server and Data Center to the patched versions (7.6.14, 7.13.5, 8.0.3, 8.1.2, 8.2.3 or later) Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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