CVE-2023-40572 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-40572, a vulnerability in XWiki Platform that allows for CSRF privilege escalation and remote code execution.

Understanding CVE-2023-40572

This section delves into what CVE-2023-40572 entails and its impact on XWiki Platform.

What is CVE-2023-40572?

CVE-2023-40572 describes a vulnerability in the XWiki Platform's create action, which is susceptible to a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack. This flaw can lead to privilege escalation and remote code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2023-40572

Exploiting this vulnerability can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire XWiki installation, especially when targeting users with scripting or programming rights. An attacker can execute scripts remotely.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-40572

This section provides a deeper dive into the technical aspects of the CVE, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the XWiki Platform's create action allows for a CSRF attack, enabling remote code execution. This occurs when a user with script right views an image triggering a script execution message in the log.

Affected Systems and Versions

XWiki Platform versions ranging from >= 3.2-milestone-3 to < 14.10.9 and >= 15.0-rc-1 to < 15.4-rc-1 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by tricking a privileged user into performing an action that triggers the create action, thereby executing malicious scripts remotely.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss the steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-40572 in XWiki Platform.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their XWiki installations to versions 14.10.9 or 15.4RC1, where a CSRF token is now required for page creation, mitigating the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strict access controls, regular security audits, and user awareness training can enhance the overall security posture of XWiki installations.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying security patches and updates from XWiki is essential to address known vulnerabilities and ensure the continued security of the platform.