CVE-2023-35152 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A privilege escalation vulnerability has been identified in XWiki Platform, impacting versions 12.9-rc-1 to 15.0-rc-1. This vulnerability allows any logged-in user to execute dangerous content in their first name field, leading to a critical security risk.

Understanding CVE-2023-35152

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of the privilege escalation vulnerability in XWiki Platform.

What is CVE-2023-35152?

The vulnerability in XWiki Platform allows users to escalate their privileges by inserting and executing malicious content in the first name field. This issue affects versions 12.9-rc-1 to 14.4.8, 14.10.6, and 15.1, posing a significant security threat.

The Impact of CVE-2023-35152

The critical vulnerability in XWiki Platform enables any authenticated user to gain programming rights by manipulating their first name. This could result in unauthorized access and potential system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-35152

This section outlines specific technical details regarding the vulnerability in XWiki Platform.

Vulnerability Description

XWiki Platform versions 12.9-rc-1 through 15.0-rc-1 are susceptible to privilege escalation, allowing users to insert and execute harmful content in the first name field.

Affected Systems and Versions

XWiki Platform versions >= 12.9-rc-1, < 14.4.8
XWiki Platform versions >= 14.5, < 14.10.6
XWiki Platform versions >= 15.0-rc-1, < 15.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code, presenting a low attack complexity while requiring low privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-35152, it is crucial to take immediate steps to secure affected XWiki Platform installations.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update to XWiki versions 14.4.8, 14.10.6, or 15.1 to mitigate the privilege escalation vulnerability.
As a temporary workaround, users can manually apply the provided patch to address the issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance long-term security, organizations should regularly apply software updates and patches to prevent potential security threats.

Patching and Updates

XWiki has released patches in versions 14.4.8, 14.10.6, and 15.1 to address the privilege escalation vulnerability. Users are recommended to update to the patched versions to ensure system security.