CVE-2023-29214 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-29214, a vulnerability affecting XWiki Platform Panels UI related to 'Eval Injection'.

Understanding CVE-2023-29214

This vulnerability, assigned the CVE ID of CVE-2023-29214, affects the XWiki Platform Panels UI due to an 'Eval Injection' vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-29214?

The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-29214 involves the improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code, also known as 'Eval Injection'. It allows a user with edit rights to execute arbitrary Groovy, Python, or Velocity code, consequently gaining full access to the XWiki installation.

The Impact of CVE-2023-29214

The impact of CVE-2023-29214 is considered critical, with a high base score of 10 according to CVSS v3.1 metrics. It affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making it a severe threat to XWiki Platform Panels UI.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-29214

This section delves into the specific technical details related to CVE-2023-29214.

Vulnerability Description

XWiki Commons, which are technical libraries shared among various top-level XWiki projects, are susceptible to this vulnerability. The root cause lies in the inadequate escaping of included pages in the IncludedDocuments panel.

Affected Systems and Versions

The XWiki Platform versions affected by CVE-2023-29214 include versions >= 1.1-M2 and < 13.10.11, >= 14.0-rc-1 and < 14.4.7, as well as >= 14.5 and < 14.10. It is crucial for users on these versions to take immediate action to secure their systems.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal privileges, with a low level of attack complexity. It primarily occurs over a network without any user interaction, emphasizing the urgency of patching affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-29214, users should implement the following mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are strongly advised to update their XWiki Platform to the patched versions, specifically 14.4.7 and 14.10. Restricting access rights and monitoring network activity can also help mitigate the risk.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, organizations should prioritize regular security audits, implement secure coding practices, and provide cybersecurity training to employees to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches released by XWiki and apply them promptly to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.