Specific user being set as a watcher on issues automatically

[Jael Busuttil]

I am currently facing an issue with regards to a particular user being automatically selected as a watcher for issues in different projects (approx: 30 projects and 55K issues in which he is set as a watcher), without him being a reporter/assignee nor committing any actions as per the history within the issues. There is no specific pattern for this behaviour.

There should be an automated process because there are cases which this specific user is added as a watcher in 6, 7 issues at the same second.

The problem is that I don't have any idea from where this automated process is coming. I've already checked some scripts but I couldn't find anything.

To help me to find from where it is coming, I created a listener in scriptrunner to listen to IssueWatcherAddedEvent and log to a file.

When I add myself as a watcher in a issue, it shows in the logs as "http-nio-8080-exec" but for this specific user, the IssueWatcherAddedEvent is showing as "JiraTaskExectionThread".

Does anyone have any idea where I can check? Thank you. 

[Andrew]

Hi @Jael Busuttil ,

Try check 'escalation services' and workflow transitions. Also You can try change permission to deny manage watcher, maybe it will give something error log.

B.R.

[Jael Busuttil]

Hi @Andrew ,

Thank you for your reply. 

Kindly wanted to ask for further clarification, our user does not have "manage watcher" permissions in some projects where he is being added as a watcher. Furthermore, I do not use "escalation services" in JIRA. 

Thanks.

[Andrew]

user does not have "manage watcher" permissions

I mean try deny permission in one (affected) project in case when only your user can manage watcher. Maybe script run from other user account and system catch permission error.

B.R.

[Jael Busuttil]

Hi @Andrew 

Thank you for your reply. I have found the solution of my issue, the user was auto watching using "bulk changing" feature in the JIRA.

More information can be found in this link:

https://confluence.atlassian.com/jiracoreserver073/editing-multiple-issues-at-the-same-time-861257342.html 

Watch / stop watching multiple issues

These bulk operations allows you to start watching or stop watching multiple issues at the same time.

1. Perform a search with the required filters to produce a list of issues.
2. Select Tools > Bulk Change.
3. Select the issues you'd like to perform the bulk operation on, and select Next.
4. Select Watch Issues, and select Next.
5. Review your bulk operation, and select Confirm when you are happy with the operation.

The same procedure applies in order to remove the autowatch: by selecting "stop watching issues" in step 4. 

Furthermore, it was noted that: http-nio-8080-exec occurred whenever a user selected on the "Start watching this issue" button on the right side of the issue and the: JiraTaskExectionThread occurred whenever a user "bulk-watched" using the above-mentioned procedure.

Thanks.