CVE-2022-24821 in XWiki
Summary
by MITRE • 04/08/2022
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform offering runtime services for applications built on top of it. Simple users can create global SSX/JSX without specific rights: in theory only users with Programming Rights should be allowed to create SSX or JSX that are executed everywhere on a wiki. But a bug allow anyone with edit rights to actually create those. This issue has been patched in XWiki 13.10-rc-1, 12.10.11 and 13.4.6. There's no easy workaround for this issue, administrators should upgrade their wiki.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-24821 represents a critical access control flaw within the XWiki Platform, a widely-used generic wiki platform that serves as a foundation for various applications requiring runtime services. This issue fundamentally undermines the platform's security model by allowing unauthorized users to bypass intended permission controls. The vulnerability specifically affects the platform's handling of SSX (Server-Side XWiki) and JSX (JavaScript) components, which are designed to execute code across the entire wiki system. According to the platform's security architecture, only users possessing Programming Rights should have the capability to create these executable components, as they pose significant security risks when executed globally. The flaw enables users with merely edit rights to create and execute SSX or JSX content, effectively granting them elevated privileges that should be restricted to authorized administrators.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a failure in the platform's authorization mechanism that governs component creation. When users attempt to create SSX or JSX content, the system should verify whether the requesting user possesses the appropriate Programming Rights before permitting execution. However, due to the bug present in affected versions, this verification process fails, allowing any user with basic edit permissions to create executable content that will be processed and executed across the entire wiki environment. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where a lower-privileged user gains access to functionality typically restricted to higher-privileged roles. The flaw operates at the application logic level, indicating a breakdown in the platform's security controls that should have prevented unauthorized code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing malicious actors to compromise entire wiki installations. An attacker with edit rights could create SSX or JSX content that executes arbitrary code on the server, leading to potential data exfiltration, system compromise, or disruption of services. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a significant deviation from the principle of least privilege that should govern all security-sensitive applications. The global execution capability of these components means that any compromised user account with edit rights could potentially affect all users and data within the wiki system. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where wikis host sensitive information or serve as collaboration platforms for organizations with strict security requirements. The attack surface extends beyond simple content manipulation to include potential remote code execution capabilities, making it a high-priority issue for system administrators.
Mitigation of this vulnerability requires immediate action from affected organizations, as there are no practical workarounds available for administrators. The recommended solution involves upgrading to patched versions of the XWiki Platform, specifically versions 13.10-rc-1, 12.10.11, or 13.4.6, which contain the necessary fixes for the authorization flaw. Organizations running affected versions should prioritize this upgrade to prevent potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and the risks associated with delaying security updates. System administrators should conduct thorough assessments of their wiki installations to identify all affected systems and implement the necessary upgrades as quickly as possible. This vulnerability also highlights the critical need for regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of web applications, particularly those that execute user-provided content with elevated privileges. The issue serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of insufficient access control mechanisms in collaborative platforms and the importance of robust security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.