CVE-2023-32069 in XWiki
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2023
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform. Starting in version 3.3-milestone-2 and prior to versions 14.10.4 and 15.0-rc-1, it's possible for a user to execute anything with the right of the author of the XWiki.ClassSheet document. This has been patched in XWiki 15.0-rc-1 and 14.10.4. There are no known workarounds.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-32069 affects the XWiki Platform, a widely-used generic wiki platform that serves as a collaborative document management system. This security flaw exists in versions starting from 3.3-milestone-2 through the affected releases, creating a critical privilege escalation opportunity for malicious actors. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the platform's document management system, specifically concerning the XWiki.ClassSheet document authorization framework.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows an authenticated user to execute arbitrary actions with the privileges of the original author of the XWiki.ClassSheet document. This represents a significant authorization bypass issue that falls under the CWE-285 category of improper authorization, where the system fails to properly verify that the requesting user has adequate permissions for the requested operation. The flaw manifests in the platform's insufficient validation of user credentials and document ownership when processing requests related to class sheet modifications, effectively enabling privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges within the XWiki environment, potentially leading to full system compromise. An attacker with basic user access could leverage this vulnerability to modify critical system documents, create new administrative accounts, or manipulate content in ways that would normally require higher-level permissions. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the wiki platform, as it undermines the fundamental security model that separates user roles and privileges within the system. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the platform, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts are widely distributed.
Security practitioners should immediately upgrade to the patched versions 14.10.4 or 15.0-rc-1 to remediate this vulnerability. Organizations using affected versions should implement network segmentation and monitor for suspicious user activities, particularly around document modification operations. The lack of known workarounds means that the only effective mitigation strategy is the official software update. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1548.005 for abuse of cloud infrastructure, as it enables unauthorized privilege escalation through legitimate user accounts. The platform's security posture should be reviewed to ensure proper implementation of least privilege principles and that access controls are properly enforced for all document types, particularly those related to system configuration and class definitions. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive audits of their XWiki implementations to identify any other potential authorization bypasses that may exist within their specific configurations.