CVE-2023-26474 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record pertains to a vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-26474, which has been published and affects the XWiki Platform. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation through properties utilizing wiki syntax and being executed with incorrect authorizations.

Understanding CVE-2023-26474

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-26474, emphasizing its impact, technical details, and methods for mitigation and prevention.

What is CVE-2023-26474?

CVE-2023-26474 involves a vulnerability in the XWiki Platform that enables privilege escalation by manipulating properties containing wiki syntax using incorrect authorizations. This vulnerability has a critical base severity score of 10.

The Impact of CVE-2023-26474

The impact of CVE-2023-26474 is significant, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The vulnerability stems from improper access control, categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control).

Technical Details of CVE-2023-26474

In this section, we will explore the vulnerable aspects of CVE-2023-26474, including a description of the vulnerability, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the XWiki Platform allows attackers to escalate privileges by leveraging properties with wiki syntax, executing them with incorrect authorizations. This can lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

The XWiki Platform versions affected by CVE-2023-26474 include:

Version >= 13.10, < 13.10.11
Version >= 14.0, < 14.4.7
Version >= 14.5, < 14.10 Users utilizing these versions are at risk of privilege escalation due to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating properties within the XWiki Platform that utilize wiki syntax and executing them with improper authorizations. This manipulation can lead to unauthorized access and control over system functions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-26474, immediate actions, as well as long-term security practices, are essential to safeguard systems and prevent exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update their XWiki Platform installations to the patched versions: 13.10.11, 14.4.7, and 14.10.
It is crucial to restrict access to sensitive areas and enforce proper access controls within the platform.

Long-Term Security Practices

Establishing robust access control policies, conducting regular security audits, and educating users on secure practices will enhance the overall security posture and mitigate future vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates and promptly applying patches released by XWiki is essential to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities and ensure the platform's security integrity.