H3-2025-0038
Jira Unauthenticated Access to Project Categories
| Category | SECURITY_CONTROLS |
| Base Score | 5.5 |
Description
This vulnerability is related to the unauthenticated access to a critical Jira API endpoint that returns project category details. In many Jira deployments, the REST API endpoint /rest/api/2/projectCategory is accessible without proper authentication or access control checks, allowing an attacker to enumerate project categories even when no valid credentials are provided. By exploiting this misconfiguration, attackers can retrieve information such as category identifiers, names, and descriptions which may be intended for internal organizational use. The disclosure of such metadata, though it might seem non-sensitive at first glance, can lead to further reconnaissance of the system and assist an attacker in mapping the internal structure of a Jira deployment. Furthermore, the data obtained through this endpoint can be used as a stepping stone to identify misconfigurations in related endpoints, potentially leading to a broader information disclosure or more advanced exploitation such as unauthorized access to sensitive project data. The root cause of this weakness is generally a lack of enforcement of authentication on endpoints that are expected to be restricted. This issue is aggravated in environments where the Jira instance is exposed to public or untrusted networks, thereby significantly increasing the potential for abuse. Organizations are advised to review their API access policies and ensure that all endpoints requiring protection are appropriately secured using strong authentication and access control measures.
Impact
If exploited, attackers can gain unauthorized access to detailed project category information. This information can be leveraged for further reconnaissance, potentially enabling more advanced attacks or unauthorized access to sensitive project data within the Jira environment. The exposure of internal categorization can also lead to a higher risk of misconfiguration exploitation in other parts of the system.