CVE-2022-29251 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides an overview of CVE-2022-29251, a cross-site scripting vulnerability found in the Flamingo theme manager of XWiki Platform.

Understanding CVE-2022-29251

CVE-2022-29251 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the XWiki Platform related to a possible cross-site scripting vector found in the FlamingoThemesCode.WebHomeSheet wiki page.

What is CVE-2022-29251?

The XWiki Platform Flamingo Theme UI, starting with versions 6.2.4 and 6.3-rc-1, allows customization and preview of Flamingo-based skins. However, the

newThemeName

form field in the

FlamingoThemesCode.WebHomeSheet

page is vulnerable to cross-site scripting attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2022-29251

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.4, indicating a high severity level. It can lead to confidential data exposure due to improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-29251

Vulnerability Description

The issue is present in XWiki Platform versions 6.2.4 to 12.10.11, 13.0 to 13.4.7, and 13.5 to 13.10.3. It is patched in versions 12.10.11, 14.0-rc-1, 13.4.7, and 13.10.3.

Affected Systems and Versions

XWiki Platform versions >= 6.2.4, < 12.10.11
XWiki Platform versions >= 13.0, < 13.4.7
XWiki Platform versions >= 13.5, < 13.10.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker injecting malicious scripts into the

newThemeName

form field, leading to script execution in the context of the user's browser.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the risk, users are advised to update to patched versions (12.10.11, 14.0-rc-1, 13.4.7, 13.10.3) or apply the suggested workaround by editing the

FlamingoThemesCode.WebHomeSheet

page.

Long-Term Security Practices

It is recommended to regularly monitor security advisories and apply updates promptly to protect systems from known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that XWiki Platform is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities like CVE-2022-29251.