xwiki-platform: Improper Access Control
CVE-2023-40573 is a high-severity improper access control vulnerability in xwiki-platform from XWiki, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 14.10.9, 15.4-rc-1 as the first without the flaw, so updating xwiki-platform to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.08% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 66% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update xwiki-platform to 14.10.9 or 15.4-rc-1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Xwiki to 14.10.9 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| XWiki | xwiki-platform | < 14.10.9; >= 1.3; >= 15.0-rc-1, < 15.4-rc-1; 1.3 up to, but not including, 14.10.9; 15.0-rc-1 up to, but not including, 15.4-rc-1 | 14.10.9, 15.4-rc-1 |
| XWiki | Xwiki | before 14.10.9; 15.0; 15.1; 15.2; 15.3 | 14.10.9 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.0 | Critical | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform offering runtime services for applications built on top of it. XWiki supports scheduled jobs that contain Groovy scripts. Currently, the job checks the content author of the job for programming right. However, modifying or adding a job script to a document doesn't modify the content author. Together with a CSRF vulnerability in the job scheduler, this can be exploited for remote code execution by an attacker with edit right on the wiki. If the attack is successful, an error log entry with "Job content executed" will be produced. This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 14.10.9 and 15.4RC1.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in xwiki-platform
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Improper Access Control vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
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