CVE-2026-28814 in JSPWiki
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
Arbitrary Wiki Markup rendering due to lack of authentication in Apache JSPWiki up to 2.12.3 allows attacker to obtain sensitive data stored in JSPWiki variables. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.12.4 or 3.0.0, which fixes this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
The vulnerability in Apache JSPWiki versions up to 2.12.3 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables unauthorized attackers to render arbitrary wiki markup and access sensitive data stored within JSPWiki variables. This issue stems from insufficient validation of user credentials during markup processing, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically affects the rendering mechanism that handles wiki markup content, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the system's output and extract confidential information.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the lack of proper access control checks within the wiki markup rendering pipeline. When JSPWiki processes user-generated content, it fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses appropriate permissions before executing markup rendering operations. This absence of authentication validation creates a persistent security gap that can be exploited through crafted requests designed to trigger arbitrary code execution or data retrieval from internal variables. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor input sanitization practices that violate fundamental security principles.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on JSPWiki for collaborative documentation and knowledge management. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive configuration parameters, user credentials stored in wiki variables, system metadata, and potentially other confidential information within the wiki environment. The ability to render arbitrary markup further amplifies the threat as it allows attackers to inject malicious content that could compromise the integrity of the entire wiki system or provide lateral movement capabilities within the network infrastructure.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to JSPWiki version 2.12.4 or 3.0.0, which implements proper authentication checks and access control mechanisms for markup rendering operations. Organizations should also consider implementing additional defensive measures such as network segmentation, monitoring for unusual markup processing activities, and regular security assessments of wiki configurations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through application vulnerabilities. System administrators must ensure that all users are properly authenticated before any markup rendering operations occur, preventing unauthorized access to internal variables and maintaining the integrity of the wiki environment.
Security teams should conduct immediate assessments of their JSPWiki deployments to identify systems running vulnerable versions and implement the necessary upgrades. The fix implemented in version 2.12.4 addresses the core authentication bypass issue by enforcing proper user verification before processing any markup content, thereby eliminating the attack vector that allowed unauthorized data access through wiki variable manipulation.