External risk intelligence

Microsoft Entra Jira SSO Plugin Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability.

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8)

CVE-2024-21401

The vulnerability affects a Single-Sign-On (SSO) plugin for Jira. SSO solutions and plugins providing authentication integration are typically deployed on internet-facing web applications to facilitate external user access, making the vulnerable component commonly reachable from the public internet.

Microsoft Entra Jira Sso Plugin

before 1.1.2

Halo Surface Signal: 4 out of 5 — likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This advisory concerns a critical vulnerability in a Microsoft Entra plugin for Jira that handles single sign-on. The issue could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges, potentially impacting access control and data security. The primary concern is confirming if this specific plugin is in use and exposed.

Unauthorized access possible via identity plugin.
Critical privileges could be compromised.
Confirm if this plugin is in use.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to a vulnerable instance of the Microsoft Entra Jira Single-Sign-On Plugin. This could allow them to gain elevated privileges within the affected system.

Entry Condition: Unauthenticated network access.
Trigger Point: Sending a malicious request.
Resulting Risk: Elevated privileges and system compromise.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability in the Microsoft Entra Jira Single-Sign-On Plugin could allow an unauthenticated attacker to gain elevated privileges. This could occur when a user interacts with a specially crafted web page, potentially leading to unauthorized access to system data and sensitive information.

System and user data integrity.
Unauthenticated network access.
Unauthorized administrative control.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability impacts the Microsoft Entra Jira Single-Sign-On Plugin, likely managed by platform or application teams responsible for identity and access management. The immediate priority is to determine the presence and reachability of this plugin within your environment, identify the accountable asset owner, and assess its criticality to business operations to inform remediation planning.

Application and platform teams own the issue.
Verify plugin reachability and business criticality.
Plan risk-based remediation with vendor coordination.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Microsoft Entra Jira SSO Plugin?

This software is an extension for Jira that enables Single-Sign-On (SSO) capabilities using Microsoft Entra. It acts as an identity bridge, allowing users to authenticate into Jira using their existing Microsoft identity credentials, simplifying login processes for teams that use the Microsoft ecosystem.

What does elevation of privilege mean for CVE-2024-21401?

This vulnerability is classified as Improper Access Control (CWE-284). In plain terms, it means the plugin fails to correctly verify the identity or permissions of a user. An attacker can manipulate this weakness to gain higher-level access rights within Jira than they should legitimately have, potentially reaching administrative levels.

How is this vulnerability triggered?

An attacker triggers this flaw by sending a specifically formatted network request to the affected plugin. It does not require the attacker to have an existing account or prior authentication. Simply interacting with the plugin via the network is enough, provided the application is reachable; standard, non-malicious usage of the plugin does not trigger the bug.

Is my Jira instance at risk?

According to Halo Surface Signal, this plugin is often deployed on internet-facing web applications to allow remote users to log in. Because the vulnerability is reachable over a network without authentication, instances accessible from the public internet face the highest risk. Internal-only instances are generally safer, though they remain vulnerable if an attacker gains access to the internal network.

What should I do if I use this plugin?

First, verify if you are running a version earlier than 1.1.2. If you are, identify the teams responsible for your Jira infrastructure and confirm the plugin's current configuration and reachability. Coordinate with your team to plan an update to a patched version provided by the vendor, ensuring you prioritize this based on the plugin's criticality to your operations.

References

msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-21401

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.