CVE-2023-26475 in XWiki
Summary
by MITRE • 03/02/2023
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform. Starting in version 2.3-milestone-1, the annotation displayer does not execute the content in a restricted context. This allows executing anything with the right of the author of any document by annotating the document. This has been patched in XWiki 13.10.11, 14.4.7 and 14.10. There is no easy workaround except to upgrade.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-26475 affects the XWiki Platform, a widely used generic wiki platform that enables collaborative document management and content creation. This security flaw resides in the annotation displayer component that was introduced in version 2.3-milestone-1, creating a significant privilege escalation risk that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the document author. The vulnerability represents a critical flaw in the platform's access control mechanisms and sandboxing capabilities, as the annotation system fails to properly isolate the execution context of annotated content. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and execution restrictions within the annotation processing pipeline, which directly violates security principles of least privilege and secure code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker creates malicious annotations on documents they do not own, leveraging the annotation displayer's failure to execute content in a restricted environment. This flaw enables arbitrary code execution with the author's privileges, effectively allowing attackers to perform actions such as modifying or deleting documents, accessing restricted content, or even escalating their privileges within the system. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-74 as "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component" and aligns with ATT&CK techniques such as T1059.001 for command and script injection and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The root cause lies in the absence of proper security boundaries and execution context isolation within the annotation processing subsystem, making it possible for malicious annotations to bypass normal access controls and execute with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-26475 extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of the XWiki platform and can lead to complete system compromise. Organizations using affected versions of XWiki face significant risks including data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive documents, and potential lateral movement within their infrastructure if the platform is integrated with other systems. The vulnerability affects collaborative environments where multiple users contribute content, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where document authorship and access control are critical. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to systems, exfiltrate confidential information, or establish backdoors through the elevated privileges granted by document authorship rights. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability exists in widely deployed versions of the platform, making it a prime target for automated exploitation.
Organizations affected by CVE-2023-26475 must immediately implement the recommended patches for versions 13.10.11, 14.4.7, and 14.10 to remediate the vulnerability. The security advisory specifically notes that there are no practical workarounds available, as the issue stems from fundamental architectural flaws in the annotation processing system that cannot be easily mitigated through configuration changes or access control modifications. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected XWiki instances and conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper sandboxing mechanisms in collaborative platforms, particularly those that allow user-generated content processing. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual annotation activity and consider additional security controls such as content filtering and user activity auditing to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for proper input validation and execution context isolation in web applications that process user-generated content, as failures in these areas can lead to severe privilege escalation and system compromise scenarios.