CVE-2023-26478 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE involves the XWiki platform's vulnerability where the

org.xwiki.store.script.TemporaryAttachmentsScriptService#uploadTemporaryAttachment

method exposes a dangerous function in versions starting from 14.3-rc-1 to less than 14.4.6 and from 14.5 to less than 14.9-rc-1.

Understanding CVE-2023-26478

This section will delve into what CVE-2023-26478 entails, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-26478?

The vulnerability in the XWiki platform allows unauthorized access to the

com.xpn.xwiki.doc.XWikiAttachment

class, posing a security risk as this class shouldn't be exposed to users without the necessary rights. The recommended class for use is

com.xpn.xwiki.api.Attachment

to ensure proper user rights verification before executing potentially hazardous operations.

The Impact of CVE-2023-26478

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity with a CVSS base score of 6.6. Although the attack complexity is low, the privileges required are high which could lead to potential security breaches compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-26478

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the method

org.xwiki.store.script.TemporaryAttachmentsScriptService#uploadTemporaryAttachment

exposing the

com.xpn.xwiki.doc.XWikiAttachment

class without proper user rights verification.

Affected Systems and Versions

The XWiki platform versions affected by this vulnerability include >= 14.3-rc-1 to less than 14.4.6 and from 14.5 to less than 14.9-rc-1.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the exposed dangerous function to gain unauthorized access to the

com.xpn.xwiki.doc.XWikiAttachment

class, bypassing necessary user rights checks.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides insights into immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of the XWiki platform are advised to update to versions 14.9-rc-1 and 14.4.6, where the vulnerability has been patched.
Implement strict access controls and permissions to restrict unauthorized access to critical functions and classes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security advisories and updates from XWiki to stay informed about potential vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and address security weaknesses proactively.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of patches and updates provided by XWiki to mitigate known security vulnerabilities and enhance system security.
Regularly review and update security policies and guidelines to adapt to evolving cyber threats and best practices.