1. Introduction
Atlassian Bitbucket Public Repo Enumeration refers to the detection of a version control application, specifically Atlassian Bitbucket hosting public repositories, on a remote host. This indicates potential exposure of source code and project information. Businesses may be at risk if sensitive data is stored in these repositories. Confidentiality is most likely impacted.
2. Technical Explanation
The vulnerability lies in the presence of publicly accessible Bitbucket repositories, allowing anyone to enumerate projects and potentially access source code. Exploitation requires no authentication. A simple reconnaissance scan can identify exposed repositories. There are no specific CVEs associated with this detection; it is an informational finding indicating a potential security risk based on configuration. An attacker could discover project names, file structures, and commit history by browsing the public repositories.
- Root cause: Publicly accessible Bitbucket instance without appropriate access controls.
- Exploit mechanism: An attacker uses web crawling or direct URL requests to enumerate repository contents.
- Scope: Atlassian Bitbucket instances hosting public repositories.
3. Detection and Assessment
Confirming vulnerability involves checking for publicly accessible Bitbucket repositories. A quick check can be performed via a web browser, while thorough assessment requires port scanning and enumeration tools.
- Quick checks: Access the Bitbucket instance through a web browser (e.g.,
https://bitbucket.org/) and attempt to browse public repositories. - Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 16543 can identify exposed Bitbucket instances. This is an example only.
- Logs and evidence: Web server logs may show requests for repository files or directories.
curl -I https://bitbucket.org/4. Solution / Remediation Steps
Fixing the issue involves securing Bitbucket repositories with appropriate access controls. These steps ensure only authorized users can access sensitive data.
4.1 Preparation
- Dependencies: Access to Bitbucket administration interface with appropriate permissions is required. Roll back plan: Restore from backup if necessary.
- Change window needs and approval may be needed depending on organizational policies.
4.2 Implementation
- Step 1: Log in to the Bitbucket administration interface.
- Step 2: Navigate to repository settings for each public repository.
- Step 3: Change the visibility of repositories from “Public” to “Private”.
- Step 4: Configure appropriate user permissions and access controls for private repositories.
4.3 Config or Code Example
Before
Repository Visibility: PublicAfter
Repository Visibility: Private, Access restricted to authorized users only.4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability
List only practices that directly address this vulnerability type. Use neutral wording and examples instead of fixed advice. For example: least privilege, input validation, safe defaults, secure headers, patch cadence. If a practice does not apply, do not include it.
- Practice 1: Least privilege to limit access only to authorized personnel.
- Practice 2: Access control lists (ACLs) to define specific permissions for each repository.
4.5 Automation (Optional)
# Example PowerShell script to check repository visibility (requires Bitbucket API access)
# This is an example only and requires appropriate authentication and error handling.
# $bitbucketUrl = "https://your-bitbucket-url"
# $username = "your_username"
# $password = "your_password"
# Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$bitbucketUrl/rest/api/latest/repositories?limit=100" -Authentication @{Username=$username; Password=$password} | ForEach-Object {
# if ($_.visibility -eq "public") {
# Write-Host "Repository $($_.name) is public. Consider changing visibility."
# }
# }5. Verification / Validation
Confirm the fix by checking that repositories are no longer publicly accessible. Verify access controls and ensure only authorized users can view private repositories.
- Post-fix check: Access a previously public repository through a web browser; it should now require authentication.
- Re-test: Re-run the initial web crawl to confirm no public repositories are accessible without credentials.
- Monitoring: Monitor Bitbucket logs for unauthorized access attempts or changes in repository visibility.
curl -I https://bitbucket.org/your-repository (should return 401 Unauthorized)6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring
Suggest only measures that are relevant to the vulnerability type. Use “for example” to keep advice conditional, not prescriptive.
- Baselines: Update security baselines to enforce private repository visibility as a default setting.
- Asset and patch process: Regularly review Bitbucket configuration settings for compliance with security policies.
7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back
- Risk or side effect 1: Authorized users may experience temporary access issues if permissions are not configured correctly.
- Risk or side effect 2: Changes in repository visibility could disrupt automated workflows that rely on public access.
- Roll back: Restore the Bitbucket configuration from backup, or revert repository visibility settings to “Public”.
8. References and Resources
- Vendor advisory or bulletin: https://support.atlassian.com/bitbucket-cloud/docs/control-repository-visibility/
- NVD or CVE entry: Not applicable, as this is an informational finding.
- Product or platform documentation relevant to the fix: https://bitbucket.org/product