CVE-2023-50723 : Security Advisory and Response

This article provides insights into CVE-2023-50723, a remote code execution vulnerability in XWiki Platform that allows users to gain programming rights through an arbitrary wiki page.

Understanding CVE-2023-50723

XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform where users with the ability to edit any wiki page can exploit a vulnerability to gain programming rights, impacting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire installation.

What is CVE-2023-50723?

XWiki Platform versions prior to 14.10.15, 15.5.2, and 15.7-rc-1 suffer from a code injection vulnerability that enables users to execute arbitrary code, potentially compromising the security of the platform.

The Impact of CVE-2023-50723

This vulnerability allows any user in an XWiki installation to escalate their privileges and execute malicious code, posing a significant threat to the security and stability of the platform.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-50723

In this section, we delve into the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2023-50723 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code, enabling users to inject and execute code within the XWiki platform.

Affected Systems and Versions

XWiki versions ranging from 2.3 to 15.7-rc-1 are impacted by this vulnerability, allowing users to exploit the code injection flaw and gain unauthorized programming rights.

Exploitation Mechanism

Users with the capability to edit any wiki page within an XWiki installation can leverage the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to the compromise of sensitive data and functionalities.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2023-50723 vulnerability, users and administrators can implement the following mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update XWiki to versions 14.10.15, 15.5.2, or 15.7RC1 to patch the vulnerability and prevent unauthorized code execution.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and apply security updates to XWiki to mitigate the risk of similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Manually apply the patches to the

XWiki.ConfigurableClassMacros

and

XWiki.ConfigurableClass

pages as recommended by XWiki to secure the platform against code injection attacks.