CVE-2023-49280 in application-changerequest
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
XWiki Change Request is an XWiki application allowing to request changes on a wiki without publishing directly the changes. Change request allows to edit any page by default, and the changes are then exported in an XML file that anyone can download. So it's possible for an attacker to obtain password hash of users by performing an edit on the user profiles and then downloading the XML file that has been created. This is also true for any document that might contain password field and that a user can view. This vulnerability impacts all version of Change Request, but the impact depends on the rights that has been set on the wiki since it requires for the user to have the Change request right (allowed by default) and view rights on the page to target. This issue cannot be easily exploited in an automated way. The patch consists in denying to users the right of editing pages that contains a password field with change request. It means that already existing change request for those pages won't be removed by the patch, administrators needs to take care of it. The patch is provided in Change Request 1.10, administrators should upgrade immediately. It's possible to workaround the vulnerability by denying manually the Change request right on some spaces, such as XWiki space which will include any user profile by default.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2023
CVE-2023-49280 represents a significant information disclosure vulnerability within the XWiki Change Request application that operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a CWE-200 - Information Exposure. This vulnerability stems from the application's default configuration that permits users with change request rights to edit any page within the wiki system, creating an attack vector where malicious actors can exploit the XML export functionality to extract sensitive data including password hashes from user profiles and other documents containing password fields. The flaw exists because the system does not properly validate whether the content being modified contains sensitive information, particularly password fields, before allowing the change request to be processed and exported.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability relies on the application's XML export mechanism which serializes all page modifications into downloadable files without adequate sanitization or access control enforcement. Attackers can leverage their ability to submit change requests for user profile pages or other documents containing password fields, then download the resulting XML files to extract credential information. This attack requires specific preconditions including the presence of change request rights and view permissions on target pages, making it a privilege escalation vulnerability rather than a direct remote code execution threat. The vulnerability's impact is directly proportional to the wiki's access control configuration, as the attacker must possess the necessary permissions to initiate the change request process and view the target content.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple credential theft, as it creates persistent exposure opportunities for user authentication data within wiki environments. This information disclosure threat aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1566 - Phishing, as attackers can use the extracted password hashes for further credential-based attacks or pass-the-hash techniques. The vulnerability's exploitation difficulty is moderate since it requires both the appropriate permissions and targeted knowledge of pages containing sensitive information, though the manual nature of the attack makes automated exploitation challenging. However, the potential for data breaches remains significant, particularly in environments where user profiles contain additional sensitive information beyond just password hashes.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing a patch that specifically denies users the ability to edit pages containing password fields through the change request mechanism, as provided in Change Request version 1.10. This patch addresses the core issue by introducing content-based access controls that prevent modification of sensitive fields while preserving the legitimate functionality of the change request system. Administrators must manually review existing change requests for affected pages since the patch does not automatically remove previously submitted requests, requiring careful post-patch administrative oversight. Alternative workarounds include manually restricting change request permissions on specific wiki spaces such as the XWiki space that contains user profiles, effectively creating administrative boundaries around sensitive content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing least privilege access controls and proper content validation mechanisms, particularly for applications that handle user authentication data and provide modification capabilities within collaborative environments.