Are duplicate user accounts a problem?

James Minchin April 29, 2022

Jira is warning that we have duplicate user accounts, and indeed when assigning issues to users we sometimes see users repeated in the list. We originally used the internal directory before moving to external LDAP, and there are users in both directories with the same usernames. However, this was years ago, and this issue has only recently occurred, after a server migration and/or upgrade.

Reading Atlassian documentation - https://developer.atlassian.com/server/jira/platform/database-user-and-group-tables/ - it sounds like these are "Shadowed users", but the page says:

"... the User Directories have a sort hierarchy and Jira will only recognize the user in the highest priority directory...The first user in the list is the actual one that Jira will use.
Any other users are considered as "shadowed" by the first and will be ignored by Jira."

The external directory is highest priority, and when looking at the duplicated accounts in user management only the account in the external directory is shown.

So my questions are:

  • why are duplicates showing up when assigning issues?
  • why is Jira warning that this is a problem, when they can be treated as shadow users?
  • do I need to delete or disable the internal user accounts?

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Fabio Racobaldo _Herzum_
Community Leader
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April 29, 2022

Hi @James Minchin ,

there is an open bug for that https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRASERVER-73128

Please take a look to the following article and proposed workaroud https://confluence.atlassian.com/jirakb/health-check-duplicate-user-accounts-1063554355.html

Hope this helps,

Fabio

James Minchin April 29, 2022

Thanks Fabio.

That second link was especially useful in explaining the security risks associated with having duplicate accounts.

I don't see mention in either place of why the duplicates are appearing when assigning issues, as my reading about shadowed users indicates only one should be visible. However, as I will be removing the duplicate accounts it is only of minor importance.

Fabio Racobaldo _Herzum_
Community Leader
Community Leader
Community Leaders are connectors, ambassadors, and mentors. On the online community, they serve as thought leaders, product experts, and moderators.
April 29, 2022

you're welcome @James Minchin 

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