CVE-2023-46731: Remote code execution through the section parameter in Administration as guest in XWiki Platform
First published: Mon Nov 06 2023(Updated: )
### Impact XWiki doesn't properly escape the section URL parameter that is used in the code for displaying administration sections. This allows any user with read access to the document `XWiki.AdminSheet` (by default, everyone including unauthenticated users) to execute code including Groovy code. This impacts the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the whole XWiki instance. By opening the URL `<server>/xwiki/bin/get/Main/WebHome?sheet=XWiki.AdminSheet&viewer=content§ion=%5D%5D%7B%7B%2Fhtml%7D%7D%7B%7Basync%7D%7D%7B%7Bgroovy%7D%7Dservices.logging.getLogger(%22attacker%22).error(%22Attack%20succeeded!%22)%7B%7B%2Fgroovy%7D%7D%7B%7B%2Fasync%7D%7D&xpage=view` where `<server>` is the URL of the XWiki installation, it can be tested if an XWiki installation is vulnerable. If this causes a log message `ERROR attacker - Attack succeeded!` to appear in XWiki's log, the installation is vulnerable. In very old versions of XWiki, the attack can be demonstrated with `<server>/xwiki/bin/get/XWiki/XWikiPreferences?section=%3C%25println(%22Hello%20from%20Groovy%22)%25%3E&xpage=view` which displays `admin.hello from groovy` as title when the attack succeeds (tested on XWiki 1.7). ### Patches This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 14.10.14, 15.6 RC1 and 15.5.1. ### Workarounds The [fix](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/fec8e0e53f9fa2c3f1e568cc15b0e972727c803a#diff-6271f9be501f30b2ba55459eb451aee3413d34171ba8198a77c865306d174e23), which consists of replacing `= $services.localization.render("administration.sectionTitle$level", [$sectionName]) =` by `= $services.localization.render("administration.sectionTitle$level", 'xwiki/2.1', [$sectionName]) =`, can be applied manually to the document `XWiki.AdminSheet`. ### References * https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21110 * https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/fec8e0e53f9fa2c3f1e568cc15b0e972727c803a
Credit: security-advisories@github.com security-advisories@github.com
| Affected Software | Affected Version | How to fix |
|---|---|---|
| maven/org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-administration | <14.10.14 | 14.10.14 |
| maven/org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-administration-ui | >=15.0-rc-1<15.5.1 | 15.5.1 |
| maven/org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-administration-ui | <14.10.14 | 14.10.14 |
| Xwiki Xwiki | <14.10.14 | |
| Xwiki Xwiki | >=15.0<15.5.1 | |
| <14.10.14 | ||
| >=15.0<15.5.1 |
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Reference Links
- https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/security/advisories/GHSA-62pr-qqf7-hh89
- https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/fec8e0e53f9fa2c3f1e568cc15b0e972727c803a
- https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/fec8e0e53f9fa2c3f1e568cc15b0e972727c803a#diff-6271f9be501f30b2ba55459eb451aee3413d34171ba8198a77c865306d174e23
- https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21110
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46731
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-62pr-qqf7-hh89 (Advisory)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the vulnerability ID?
The vulnerability ID is CVE-2023-46731.
What is the impact of the vulnerability?
The vulnerability allows any user with read access to execute code, including Groovy code.
What is the severity of the vulnerability?
The severity of the vulnerability is critical, with a severity score of 10.
Which software is affected by the vulnerability?
The XWiki Platform Administration and XWiki Platform Administration UI are affected by the vulnerability.
How can the vulnerability be fixed?
The vulnerability can be fixed by updating to XWiki Platform Administration version 14.10.14 and XWiki Platform Administration UI version 15.5.1, or higher.
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