CVE-2023-29506: Code Injection Vulnerability in XWiki Commons - Patch Released for Versions 13.10.11, 14.4.7, and 14.10

XWiki Commons is a set of technical libraries widely used in various top-level projects in the XWiki ecosystem. It serves as the foundation for building robust and feature-rich applications on the XWiki platform. Recently, a security vulnerability (CVE-2023-29506) was discovered in the XWiki Commons that allowed attackers to inject malicious code using the URL of authenticated endpoints. Fortunately, the XWiki team has promptly patched the vulnerability in versions 13.10.11, 14.4.7, and 14.10. This post delves into the details of CVE-2023-29506, the exploitation process, and the steps you should take to secure your XWiki installation.

Description of the Vulnerability (CVE-2023-29506)

The vulnerability (CVE-2023-29506) in XWiki Commons stems from a lack of proper input validation when handling user-provided data. As a result, attackers can inject malicious code into the URL of authenticated endpoints, which could lead to arbitrary code execution on the server or Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks against the user's browser. This vulnerability is considered critical and poses a significant risk to XWiki deployments using vulnerable versions of the XWiki Commons library.

Exploitation Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first need access to an authenticated user account on the XWiki instance. With this access, the attacker can then manipulate the URL for authenticated endpoints and inject malicious code. For example, consider the following hypothetical URL manipulation:

https://example.xwiki.com/xwiki/authenticatedEndpoint?parameter1=value1&parameter2=<malicious_code>;

In this example, the attacker has replaced the expected value for parameter2 with their malicious code. When the user accesses this URL, the XWiki server may execute the injected code, potentially leading to severe consequences such as unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or denial of service.

Links to Original References

1. XWiki Security Advisory: CVE-2023-29506 Advisory
2. Patched XWiki versions: XWiki 13.10.11, XWiki 14.4.7, XWiki 14.10
3. XWiki Commons: Official Website

To secure your XWiki installation against CVE-2023-29506, follow these steps

1. Identify if your current XWiki version is affected by this vulnerability. You can refer to the XWiki Security Advisory for a list of vulnerable versions.
2. Update your XWiki instance to one of the patched versions mentioned above (13.10.11, 14.4.7, or 14.10).
3. If you cannot update immediately, consider implementing additional security measures such as strong access controls and network-level protections (e.g., firewalls) to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-29506 is a critical vulnerability in XWiki Commons that may allow attackers to inject malicious code through authenticated endpoint URLs. It is crucial to apply the patch released by the XWiki team for versions 13.10.11, 14.4.7, and 14.10 as soon as possible to protect your XWiki instance. By staying alert to security updates and promptly addressing vulnerabilities, you will help ensure the overall security and integrity of your XWiki deployment.

Timeline

Published on: 04/16/2023 07:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/26/2023 17:45:00 UTC