CVE-2023-33944 in Liferay
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2023
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Layout module in Liferay Portal 7.3.4 through 7.4.3.68, and Liferay DXP 7.3 before update 24, and 7.4 before update 69 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted payload injected into a container type layout fragment's `URL` text field.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33944 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Layout module of Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP platforms. This security weakness affects versions ranging from Liferay Portal 7.3.4 through 7.4.3.68 and specific DXP releases before their respective updates 24 and 69. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the container type layout fragment's URL text field processing functionality. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious payloads that are then injected into the URL field, creating persistent XSS vectors that can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of affected user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the layout fragment handling subsystem where user-supplied URL values are processed without proper sanitization before being rendered in web pages. When a container type layout fragment contains a URL field that accepts user input, the application fails to adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed whenever the affected page is rendered. The vulnerability specifically targets the URL text field within layout fragments, which are commonly used components in portal page construction and content management workflows. According to CWE classification, this represents a classic CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting vulnerability where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-33944 extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with significant privileges to manipulate portal functionality and compromise user sessions. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify page content, or even escalate privileges within the portal environment. The vulnerability affects both authenticated and unauthenticated users depending on the portal configuration and the specific layout fragments that are accessible. Given that layout fragments are fundamental building blocks of portal pages, the attack surface is extensive and can potentially impact numerous portal pages and applications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001: Phishing via Social Media where attackers can use XSS to create malicious content that appears legitimate to end users, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where portal systems serve as central collaboration and information platforms.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the latest security patches and updates provided by Liferay for the affected versions, specifically targeting updates 24 for Liferay DXP 7.3 and update 69 for Liferay DXP 7.4. Additionally, administrators should implement strict input validation and sanitization policies for all user-supplied data within layout fragment fields, particularly URL text fields. Web Application Firewall rules can be configured to detect and block suspicious patterns commonly associated with XSS attacks, including common script tags and encoded javascript references. Input encoding and output escaping should be implemented at multiple layers to ensure that any potentially malicious content is neutralized before rendering. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in layout fragment modifications and user activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the portal ecosystem, ensuring comprehensive protection against persistent threats targeting portal infrastructure and user data.