CVE-2022-41934 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability has been discovered in the XWiki Platform that allows users with view rights on commonly accessible documents to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to full access to the XWiki installation. This CVE has been assigned a CVSS base score of 9.9, indicating a critical severity level.

Understanding CVE-2022-41934

XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform that offers runtime services for applications built on top of it. The vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code in org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-menu-ui, allowing for code execution through the menu macro.

What is CVE-2022-41934?

The CVE-2022-41934 vulnerability in XWiki Platform enables users to execute arbitrary Groovy, Python, or Velocity code due to improper escaping of the macro content and parameters of the menu macro.

The Impact of CVE-2022-41934

Exploiting this vulnerability can result in unauthorized users gaining full access to the XWiki installation. This can lead to data breaches, unauthorized modifications, or complete system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-41934

The following technical details outline the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper escaping of the macro content and parameters in the menu macro, allowing for the execution of arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

XWiki Platform versions prior to 13.10.8 and versions between 14.0.0 and 14.4.3 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Users with view rights on commonly accessible documents, including the menu macro, can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code and potentially gain full access to the XWiki installation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-41934 and prevent exploitation, users and administrators are recommended to take the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to XWiki versions 14.6RC1, 13.10.8, or 14.4.3 that contain patches for the vulnerability.
Manually apply the patch (commit

2fc20891

) for the document

Menu.MenuMacro

or import a XAR archive of a patched version.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update XWiki Platform to the latest versions to ensure that security patches are applied promptly.
Restrict user permissions to minimize the impact of potential security vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial to keep XWiki Platform updated to the latest patched versions to mitigate the risk of exploitation and ensure the security of the XWiki installation.