CVE-2025-53837: org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-xml has an Eval Injection issue
Impact Any user who can edit their own user profile or any other document can execute arbitrary script macros including Groovy and Python macros that allow remote code execution including unrestricted read and write access to all wiki contents. The reason is that rendering output is included as content of HTML macros without further escaping and it is thus possible to close the HTML macro and inject script macros that are executed with programming rights.
This can be demonstrated by adding an object of type XWiki.UIExtensionClass to a document with content {{html wiki="true"}}~{~{~/~h~t~m~l~}~}~ ~{~{~c~a~c~h~e~}~}~{~{~g~r~o~o~v~y~}~}~p~r~i~n~t~l~n~(~1~)~{~{~/~g~r~o~o~v~y~}~}~{~{~/~c~a~c~h~e~}~}{{/html}}, extension point id org.xwiki.platform.html.head, extension id org.xwiki.myuser.test and extension scope "current user". When opening <xwiki-server>/xwiki/bin/view/Main/?sheet=CKEditor.ContentSheet&xpage=plain where <xwiki-server> is the URL of the XWiki installation, the output should start with {{/html}} {{cache}}{{groovy}}println(1){{/groovy}}{{/cache}} and not with 1</p>.
This escaping was always missing at least in XWiki syntax version 2, it is definitely exploitable in XWiki 3.3 Milestone 1 via the user profile (not through extension points), though this has also been fixed by a separate patch, see the advisory. Exploitable extension points include org.xwiki.platform.search.ui.docdoesnotexist which has been added in XWiki 8.3 Milestone 1.
Patches This has been patched in XWiki 14.10.2 and 15.0 RC1 by making sure that rendering output cannot close the surrounding HTML macro.
Workarounds It is in principle possible to add escaping to all places where rendering output is used in wiki documents but at the moment there is no list of them.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: Open an issue in Jira XWiki.org Email us at Security Mailing List
Other sources
XWiki Rendering is a generic rendering system that converts textual input in a given syntax (wiki syntax, HTML, etc) into another syntax (XHTML, etc). Prior to versions 14.10.2 and 15.0 RC1, any user who can edit their own user profile or any other document can execute arbitrary script macros including Groovy and Python macros that allow remote code execution including unrestricted read and write access to all wiki contents. The reason is that rendering output is included as content of HTML macros without further escaping and it is thus possible to close the HTML macro and inject script macros that are executed with programming rights. This has been patched in XWiki 14.10.2 and 15.0 RC1 by making sure that rendering output cannot close the surrounding HTML macro. A possible workaround is available. It is, in principle, possible to add escaping to all places where rendering output is used in wiki documents, but at the moment there is no list of them.
— MITRE
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
maven/org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-xmlto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 14.10.2 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 14.10.2 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 15.0 RC1 - Compensating control
Apply the XWiki workaround mitigation until upgrading: prevent users from editing their own user profile or any other document, since any user who can edit can execute arbitrary script macros (including Groovy and Python) leading to remote code execution and unrestricted read/write to all wiki contents.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can exploit this issue?
Any user who can edit their own user profile or another document can exploit it. The example uses a UI extension object with scope set to the current user.
What level of access can exploitation provide?
An attacker can execute arbitrary script macros, including Groovy and Python macros, with programming rights. This can result in remote code execution and unrestricted read and write access to all wiki contents.
How can I check whether an installation is vulnerable?
Create the described XWiki.UIExtensionClass object and open the CKEditor.ContentSheet plain view. A vulnerable system renders the injected macro and produces "1</p>" rather than output beginning with the literal escaped macro text.