CVE-2025-22167 is a path traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-22, affecting Atlassian Jira Software Data Center and Server. This vulnerability was introduced in versions 9.12.0, 10.3.0, and persists through 11.0.0 and 11.0.1. It allows an attacker with low privileges (PR:L) and no user interaction (UI:N) to perform arbitrary read and write operations on the filesystem paths writable by the Jira JVM process. The vulnerability arises due to insufficient validation of file path inputs, enabling attackers to traverse directories and access or modify files outside the intended scope. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N) indicates network attack vector, low complexity, no authentication required beyond low privileges, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to alter configuration files, inject malicious code, or disrupt Jira services, leading to potential data breaches or denial of service. Atlassian recommends upgrading to fixed versions 9.12.28 or later, 10.3.12 or later, and 11.1.0 or later. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's characteristics make it a critical patching priority.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat due to Jira's widespread use in enterprise project management and software development. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access and modification of sensitive project data, disruption of business workflows, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. The arbitrary write capability could be leveraged to implant backdoors or ransomware, severely impacting operational continuity and data integrity. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, organizations could face regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal or sensitive data is compromised. The vulnerability also risks damaging organizational reputation and trust. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive remediation, but the ease of exploitation and network accessibility increase the urgency for European entities to patch promptly.

European organizations should immediately assess their Jira Software Data Center and Server deployments to identify affected versions. The primary mitigation is to upgrade to Atlassian’s fixed releases: 9.12.28 or later, 10.3.12 or later, and 11.1.0 or later. If immediate upgrading is not feasible, organizations should restrict network access to Jira instances, especially from untrusted networks, using firewalls or VPNs. Implement strict access controls to limit Jira JVM process write permissions to only necessary directories, reducing the attack surface. Monitor Jira logs for unusual file access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Employ file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized changes to critical files. Regularly back up Jira data and configurations to enable recovery in case of compromise. Finally, keep abreast of Atlassian advisories for any updates or patches related to this vulnerability.