CVE-2023-29209 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article discusses a critical vulnerability in the XWiki platform that allows for the execution of arbitrary code, potentially leading to a full compromise of the XWiki installation.

Understanding CVE-2023-29209

This vulnerability, identified as 'org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-legacy-notification-activitymacro Eval Injection vulnerability,' impacts XWiki versions ranging from 10.9 to 13.10.11, 14.0-rc-1 to 14.4.7, and 14.5 to 14.10.

What is CVE-2023-29209?

XWiki Commons are technical libraries common to several other top-level XWiki projects. The vulnerability arises due to the improper escaping of macro parameters in the legacy notification activity macro. Attackers with view rights on accessible documents can exploit this issue to run arbitrary Groovy, Python, or Velocity code, gaining complete control over the XWiki instance.

The Impact of CVE-2023-29209

The impact of this vulnerability is severe, as attackers can leverage it to execute arbitrary code within the XWiki platform, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data breach, or system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-29209

This section details the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows any user with view rights on accessible documents to execute arbitrary code via the legacy notification activity macro, resulting in unauthorized access to the XWiki system. The issue stems from inadequate escaping of macro parameters.

Affected Systems and Versions

XWiki versions from 10.9 to 13.10.11, 14.0-rc-1 to 14.4.7, and 14.5 to 14.10 are affected by this vulnerability, exposing them to the risk of arbitrary code execution.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious Groovy, Python, or Velocity code and injecting it into XWiki pages that are editable or accessible with view rights.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard XWiki installations from CVE-2023-29209, immediate actions and long-term security practices are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their XWiki installations to the patched versions, namely 13.10.11, 14.4.7, or 14.10, to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Additionally, restricting access to vulnerable macros and user input validation can help prevent unauthorized code execution.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, conducting regular security audits, and staying informed about security patches and updates can enhance the overall security posture of XWiki instances.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security advisories from XWiki and promptly applying patches and updates to address known vulnerabilities is crucial in maintaining a secure XWiki environment.