CVE-2023-45134
CVE-2023-45134
Weakness (CWE)
CVSS Vector
v3.1- Attack Vector
- Network
- Attack Complexity
- Low
- Privileges Required
- Low
- User Interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Description
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform offering runtime services for applications built on top of it. `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web` starting in version 3.1-milestone-1 and prior to 13.4-rc-1, `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates` prior to versions 14.10.2 and 15.5-rc-1, and `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-web-standard` starting in version 2.4-milestone-2 and prior to version 3.1-milestone-1 are vulnerable to cross-site scripting. An attacker can create a template provider on any document that is part of the wiki (could be the attacker's user profile) that contains malicious code. This code is executed when this template provider is selected during document creation which can be triggered by sending the user to a URL. For the attacker, the only requirement is to have an account as by default the own user profile is editable. This allows an attacker to execute arbitrary actions with the rights of the user opening the malicious link. Depending on the rights of the user, this may allow remote code execution and full read and write access to the whole XWiki installation. This has been patched in `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web` 13.4-rc-1, `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates` 14.10.2 and 15.5-rc-1, and `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-web-standard` 3.1-milestone-1 by adding the appropriate escaping. The vulnerable template file createinline.vm is part of XWiki's WAR and can be patched by manually applying the changes from the fix.
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of CVE-2023-45134
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
CVE ID: CVE-2023-45134 CVSS Score: 9
Severity Evaluation: The CVSS score of 9 indicates a critical vulnerability. This high score is due to the potential for remote code execution and the ability to gain full read and write access to the entire XWiki installation, which can have severe implications for data integrity, confidentiality, and availability.
Vulnerability Type: The vulnerability is a cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw in the XWiki Platform. Specifically, it allows an attacker to inject malicious code into a template provider, which is executed when the template provider is selected during document creation.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
Attack Vectors:
- User Profile Editing: An attacker with a user account can edit their profile to include a malicious template provider.
- Document Creation: The malicious template provider is executed when a user creates a document using the compromised template.
- URL Manipulation: An attacker can send a crafted URL to a user, triggering the execution of the malicious code.
Exploitation Methods:
- Phishing: An attacker can send a phishing email containing a malicious link to users, enticing them to click on it.
- Social Engineering: An attacker can use social engineering techniques to convince users to create documents using the compromised template.
- Direct Attack: An attacker with access to the XWiki platform can directly edit their profile to include the malicious template provider.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
Affected Software:
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-webversions from 3.1-milestone-1 to 13.4-rc-1org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templatesversions prior to 14.10.2 and 15.5-rc-1org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-web-standardversions from 2.4-milestone-2 to 3.1-milestone-1
Patched Versions:
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web13.4-rc-1org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates14.10.2 and 15.5-rc-1org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-web-standard3.1-milestone-1
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
Immediate Actions:
- Update Software: Upgrade to the patched versions of the affected software components.
- Disable User Editing: Temporarily disable the ability for users to edit their profiles until the patch is applied.
- Monitoring: Implement monitoring to detect any suspicious activity related to template providers and document creation.
Long-Term Strategies:
- Regular Updates: Ensure that all software components are regularly updated to the latest versions.
- User Education: Educate users about the risks of clicking on unknown links and the importance of verifying the source of emails.
- Access Control: Implement strict access controls to limit the ability of users to edit their profiles and create documents.
5. Impact on Cybersecurity Landscape
Immediate Impact:
- Data Breach: Potential for unauthorized access to sensitive data.
- System Compromise: Possibility of remote code execution leading to full system compromise.
- Reputation Damage: Loss of trust from users and stakeholders due to security breaches.
Long-Term Impact:
- Increased Awareness: Heightened awareness of the importance of input validation and sanitization in web applications.
- Enhanced Security Measures: Encouragement for organizations to implement stronger security controls and regular updates.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
Vulnerable Component:
The vulnerability resides in the createinline.vm template file, which is part of XWiki's WAR (Web Application Archive).
Technical Fix: The issue has been addressed by adding appropriate escaping to the template file. This ensures that any malicious code injected into the template provider is rendered harmless.
Manual Patching:
For systems that cannot be immediately updated, the vulnerability can be manually patched by applying the changes from the fix to the createinline.vm file. The specific commit reference for the patch is ba56fda175156dd35035f2b8c86cbd8ef1f90c2e.
References:
By understanding the technical details and implementing the recommended mitigation strategies, organizations can effectively protect their XWiki installations from this critical vulnerability.