CVE-2023-45137 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A detailed article outlining the security vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45137

Understanding CVE-2023-45137

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of the security vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-45137?

The CVE-2023-45137 vulnerability involves a cross-site scripting (XSS) issue in XWiki Platform, specifically in the create document form for existing pages. It exposes the platform to HTML injection attacks due to missing escaping in error messages displayed during document creation.

The Impact of CVE-2023-45137

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as critical, with a CVSS base score of 9.1. Attackers with low privileges can exploit the XSS issue to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-45137

Detailed technical aspects related to the CVE-2023-45137 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises in XWiki versions ranging from

>= 3.1-milestone-2

to

< 13.4-rc-1

and

< 14.10.12

to

< 15.5-rc-1

. It allows attackers to inject malicious code during document creation, leveraging existing document references for XSS attacks. Patched versions include

13.4-rc-1

,

14.10.12

, and

15.5-rc-1

.

Affected Systems and Versions

XWiki Platform versions

>= 3.1-milestone-2

to

< 13.4-rc-1

and

< 14.10.12

to

< 15.5-rc-1

are affected by this vulnerability, making them susceptible to XSS attacks through the create document form.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the XSS vulnerability by creating a document containing malicious code, utilizing existing document references and the vulnerable

createinline.vm

template file in XWiki's WAR deployment.

Mitigation and Prevention

Guidelines to mitigate the CVE-2023-45137 vulnerability and prevent potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update XWiki Platform to the patched versions (

13.4-rc-1

,

14.10.12

,

15.5-rc-1

) to eliminate the XSS risk. Additionally, review and sanitize inputs to prevent malicious code injection.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices, conduct regular security audits, and educate users on identifying and reporting suspicious activities to enhance overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from XWiki, apply patches promptly, and follow best practices to secure web applications against XSS vulnerabilities.