CVE-2023-35151 in XWiki
Summary
by MITRE • 06/23/2023
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform. Starting in version 7.3-milestone-1 and prior to versions 14.4.8, 14.10.6, and 15.1, ny user can call a REST endpoint and obtain the obfuscated passwords, even when the mail obfuscation is activated. The issue has been patched in XWiki 14.4.8, 14.10.6, and 15.1. There is no known workaround.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-35151 affects the XWiki Platform, a widely-used generic wiki platform that serves as a collaborative document management system. This security flaw exists in versions 7.3-milestone-1 through 14.4.7, 14.10.5, and 15.0, representing a significant security regression that undermines the platform's authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the platform's REST API endpoints and exposes a critical flaw in how the system handles password obfuscation, particularly when mail obfuscation is enabled. This represents a fundamental failure in the platform's security architecture, as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive authentication credentials through a publicly accessible interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the REST endpoint handlers that manage user account information. When users interact with specific API endpoints, the system fails to properly validate user permissions or authenticate requests before returning password-related data. The flaw manifests even when the platform's mail obfuscation feature is active, which typically serves as a protective measure against automated scraping of email addresses and related credentials. This indicates that the vulnerability operates at a deeper level within the platform's authentication and authorization framework, bypassing existing security layers designed to protect sensitive information. The issue falls under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and demonstrates how a flaw in API endpoint security can lead to credential exposure.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-35151 extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with the ability to harvest obfuscated passwords that could potentially be reverse-engineered or used in credential stuffing attacks against other services. The vulnerability affects any user, regardless of their access level or authentication status, which means that even unauthenticated attackers can exploit this flaw. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on XWiki for collaborative workspaces, as compromised credentials could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive documents, system configuration changes, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The exposure of obfuscated passwords particularly impacts organizations that depend on email-based authentication systems, where the leaked credentials could be used to gain access to associated email accounts and other interconnected services. The vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables credential compromise through API exploitation.
Organizations utilizing affected XWiki versions should immediately implement the available patches, as no effective workarounds exist for this vulnerability. The remediation requires upgrading to versions 14.4.8, 14.10.6, or 15.1, which contain the necessary security fixes to prevent unauthorized access to password data through REST endpoints. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their XWiki installations to identify any systems running vulnerable versions and ensure immediate patch deployment. Additionally, organizations should monitor for potential exploitation attempts by reviewing API access logs for unusual patterns or unauthorized access attempts to password-related endpoints. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in collaborative platforms and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in API access control can lead to significant security breaches. Given that the vulnerability affects core platform functionality and operates without requiring privileged access, it represents a high-severity threat that demands immediate attention from security operations teams.