CVE-2024-21650 : What You Need to Know

This CVE, assigned by GitHub_M, was published on January 8, 2024. It highlights a Remote Code Execution vulnerability in XWiki through user registration.

Understanding CVE-2024-21650

This vulnerability in XWiki allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted payloads during user registration.

What is CVE-2024-21650?

XWiki Platform, a generic wiki platform, is susceptible to a Remote Code Execution (RCE) attack through the user registration feature. Attackers can exploit this issue by inserting malicious content in the "first name" or "last name" fields during the registration process. This vulnerability impacts installations with user registration enabled for guests.

The Impact of CVE-2024-21650

The impact of this vulnerability is critical, with a CVSS V3.1 base score of 10, signifying a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack complexity is low, but the attack vector is through the network, requiring no user privileges.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-21650

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability, categorized as CWE-95, arises due to improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code, specifically in the user registration feature of XWiki.

Affected Systems and Versions

XWiki versions ranging from >= 2.2 to < 14.10.17, >= 15.0-rc-1 to < 15.5.3, and >= 15.6-rc-1 to < 15.8-rc-1 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating the "first name" or "last name" fields during user registration, attackers can insert malicious payloads that trigger remote code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2024-21650, immediate actions and long-term security practices should be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the user registration feature temporarily if possible.
Apply the available patches provided by XWiki to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update XWiki to the latest patched versions.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

XWiki has released patches for CVE-2024-21650 in versions 14.10.17, 15.5.3, and 15.8 RC1. It is crucial to apply these updates promptly to secure your XWiki installation from potential exploits.