CVE-2023-29512 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-29512, which involves a code injection vulnerability in xwiki-platform-web-templates.

Understanding CVE-2023-29512

This CVE identifies a critical vulnerability in the XWiki Platform that allows users with edit rights to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to full access to the XWiki installation.

What is CVE-2023-29512?

The vulnerability arises from the improper neutralization of special elements in the output where a downstream component may be affected, enabling code injection.

The Impact of CVE-2023-29512

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 9.9, categorizing it as critical. It can result in high confidentiality and integrity impact, with low attack complexity and network exploitability.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-29512

This section covers the specific technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows users to execute Groovy, Python, or Velocity code due to improper escaping of information loaded from certain templates.

Affected Systems and Versions

The XWiki xwiki-platform versions < 13.10.11, >= 14.0.0, < 14.4.8, and >= 14.5.0, < 14.10.1 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker with edit rights on a page can leverage the vulnerable templates, such as

imported.vm

and

packagelist.vm

, to inject and execute malicious code.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-29512, immediate actions and long-term security practices are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are strongly advised to upgrade to the patched versions like XWiki 15.0-rc-1, 14.10.1, 14.4.8, or 13.10.11 to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security advisories and promptly apply security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for XWiki and ensure timely application of patches to maintain a secure environment.