CVE-2023-29525 - XWiki Platform's "since" Parameter Vulnerability: Code Injection, Privilege Escalation, and Code Execution

XWiki Platform is a widely used, generic wiki platform that offers runtime services for various applications built on top of it. Recently, a vulnerability has been identified in certain versions of XWiki that allows attackers to execute code injections in the since parameter of the /xwiki/bin/view/XWiki/Notifications/Code/LegacyNotificationAdministration endpoint. This blog post will discuss the details of this vulnerability (CVE-2023-29525), along with the corresponding code snippet, links to original references, and potential exploit scenarios. We will also cover the steps users need to take to mitigate this vulnerability.

Exploit details

The vulnerability stems from the lack of proper input sanitization in the affected XWiki versions, allowing an attacker to inject XWiki syntax via the since parameter. This results in a privilege escalation from view to programming rights, ultimately leading to code execution privilege. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access, corrupt or leak sensitive data, or even launch various attacks on other connected systems.

14.4.8

Users are advised to upgrade to these patched versions to minimize the risk of potential exploitation.

Here's a simple code snippet demonstrating the affected parameter

/xwiki/bin/view/XWiki/Notifications/Code/LegacyNotificationAdministration?since=INJECTED_CODE_HERE

Mitigation steps for those unable to upgrade

If you are unable to upgrade to one of the patched versions, you can take the following steps to address the vulnerability:

For all affected versions

Modify the page XWiki.Notifications.Code.LegacyNotificationAdministration to add the correct escaping mechanism for the since parameter.

For versions 14.6-rc-1 and earlier

Modify the file <xwikiwebapp>/templates/distribution/eventmigration.wiki to add the required escaping mechanism.

For more information on this vulnerability, you can refer to the following resources

- XWiki Security Advisory
- CVE-2023-29525 - NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry

In conclusion, this vulnerability (CVE-2023-29525) in XWiki's since parameter can be exploited by attackers to perform code injection, escalate privileges, and execute potentially malicious code. To ensure the security of your XWiki instance and protect your valuable data, it's crucial to upgrade to the patched versions or apply the suggested workarounds promptly. Stay safe and keep your XWiki up to date!

Timeline

Published on: 04/19/2023 00:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 05/01/2023 17:27:00 UTC