CVE-2023-46244 in XWiki
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform offering runtime services for applications built on top of it. In affected versions it's possible for a user to write a script in which any velocity content is executed with the right of any other document content author. Since this API require programming right and the user does not have it, the expected result is `$doc.document.authors.contentAuthor` (not executed script), unfortunately with the security vulnerability it is possible for the attacker to get `XWiki.superadmin` which shows that the title was executed with the right of the unmodified document. This has been patched in XWiki versions 14.10.7 and 15.2RC1. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46244 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the XWiki Platform, a widely-used generic wiki platform that provides runtime services for applications built upon it. This security weakness specifically affects the Velocity template engine's execution context, where user-supplied content can be processed with elevated privileges beyond what the submitting user should logically possess. The vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the platform's document authoring and execution systems, creating a scenario where malicious actors can manipulate the execution environment to gain unauthorized privileges.
The technical flaw manifests in the Velocity content processing API where the system fails to properly validate and enforce authorization boundaries. When a user submits content containing Velocity code, the platform should execute this code with the permissions of the submitting user's role, specifically returning the content author's context through `$doc.document.authors.contentAuthor`. However, due to the vulnerability, the malicious script executes with the privileges of the target document's original author, effectively allowing attackers to impersonate any document author within the system. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where the system fails to maintain proper security boundaries between different user contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within XWiki environments, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized administrative privileges and execute arbitrary code with elevated rights. The vulnerability specifically allows an attacker to escalate from a regular user account to a super administrator level, as demonstrated by the ability to return `XWiki.superadmin` instead of the expected author context. This means that any user with access to the document editing functionality can potentially compromise the entire system, leading to data exfiltration, system modification, and complete loss of control over the wiki platform. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential lateral movement within networks where XWiki systems might be integrated with other services.
Security standards such as CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and ATT&CK techniques including T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1548.001 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism) directly apply to this vulnerability, as it fundamentally undermines the platform's access control mechanisms and allows unauthorized privilege escalation. Organizations running affected versions of XWiki are at significant risk of complete system compromise, as the vulnerability does not require any special privileges beyond basic user access to exploit. The lack of known workarounds means that organizations must urgently upgrade to patched versions, specifically 14.10.7 or 15.2RC1, to remediate this critical security weakness. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining proper security boundaries in content management systems and the potential catastrophic consequences when authorization mechanisms fail to properly enforce privilege levels.
The patching process requires careful consideration of the upgrade path, as organizations must ensure that all dependent applications and custom extensions continue to function properly after the upgrade. Security teams should conduct thorough testing of the patched version in staging environments before deployment to production systems, particularly focusing on custom Velocity templates and any user-defined content that might be affected by changes in the execution context. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious user activities and content submissions that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be used to establish persistent access to the system.