CVE-2025-53836: Xwiki rendering transformation macro Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-32mf-57h2-64x9
CVSS 9.9
CWE-94 CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-53836 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.9) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Xwiki rendering transformation macro libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves xwiki rendering is vulnerable to rce attacks when processing nested macros. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 13.10.11, 14.4.7, 14.10.

CVE-2025-53836 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-53836
GHSA Identifier GHSA-32mf-57h2-64x9
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.9
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Xwiki rendering transformation macro
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2025-53836

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xwiki rendering transformation macro dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro fixed: 13.10.11
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.rendering</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro</artifactId>
    <version>13.10.11</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro fixed: 14.4.7
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.rendering</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro</artifactId>
    <version>14.4.7</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro fixed: 14.10
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.rendering</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro</artifactId>
    <version>14.10</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.rendering

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2025-53836, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.rendering

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xwiki rendering transformation macro in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 13.10.11), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.rendering command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. In Xwiki rendering transformation macro, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Impact The default macro content parser didn't preserve the restricted attribute of the transformation context when executing nested macros. This allows executing macros that are normally forbidden in restricted mode, in particular script macros. The [cache](https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/Cache%20Macro) and [chart](https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/Chart%20Macro) macros that are bundled in XWiki use the vulnerable feature. The following XWiki syntax, when used inside a comment in XWiki, demonstrates the privilege escalation from comment right to programming right and thus remote code execution (RCE) that is possible due to this: ``` {{cache}}{{groovy}}println("Hello from Groovy!"){{/groovy}}{{/cache}} ``` This vulnerability exists since the restricted attribute has been added to the transformation context in version 4.2. ### Patches This has been patched in XWiki 13.10.11, 14.4.7 and 14.10. ### Workarounds To avoid the exploitation of this bug, comments can be disabled for untrusted users until an upgrade to a patched version has been performed. Note that users with edit rights will still be able to add comments via the object editor even if comments have been disabled. ### Resources * https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-rendering/commit/c73fa3ccd4ac59057e48e5d4325f659e78e8f86d * https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XRENDERING-689 * https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20375 ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [Jira XWiki.org](https://jira.xwiki.org/) * Email us at [Security Mailing List](mailto:security@xwiki.org) ### Attribution This vulnerability has been reported on Intigriti by René de Sain @renniepak.

CVE-2025-53836 Affected Xwiki rendering transformation macro Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
13.10.1114.4.714.10
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro
Maven
≥ 4.2-milestone-1
< 13.10.11
13.10.11
org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro
Maven
≥ 14.0
< 14.4.7
14.4.7
org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro
Maven
≥ 14.5
< 14.10
14.10

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-53836?
CVE-2025-53836 is a security vulnerability in Xwiki rendering transformation macro involving XWiki Rendering is vulnerable to RCE attacks when processing nested macros under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Xwiki rendering transformation macro versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 13.10.11, 14.4.7, 14.10 across affected packages: org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro.
What version fixes CVE-2025-53836?
Upgrading to 13.10.11, 14.4.7, 14.10 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro affected?
Yes, org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro is affected in releases prior to 13.10.11, 14.4.7, 14.10. Upgrade your dependency to 13.10.11, 14.4.7, 14.10 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-53836?
CVE-2025-53836 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.9 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-53836?
CVE-2025-53836 is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2025-53836?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.rendering'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-32mf-57h2-64x9",
  "modified" : "2025-07-15T00:35:24Z",
  "published" : "2025-07-14T22:03:06Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-53836" ],
  "summary" : "XWiki Rendering is vulnerable to RCE attacks when processing nested macros",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nThe default macro content parser didn't preserve the restricted attribute of the transformation context when executing nested macros. This allows executing macros that are normally forbidden in restricted mode, in particular script macros. The [cache](https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/Cache%20Macro) and [chart](https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/Chart%20Macro) macros that are bundled in XWiki use the vulnerable feature. The following XWiki syntax, when used inside a comment in XWiki, demonstrates the privilege escalation from comment right to programming right and thus remote code execution (RCE) that is possible due to this:\n\n```\n{{cache}}{{groovy}}println(\"Hello from Groovy!\"){{/groovy}}{{/cache}}\n```\n\nThis vulnerability exists since the restricted attribute has been added to the transformation context in version 4.2.\n\n### Patches\nThis has been patched in XWiki 13.10.11, 14.4.7 and 14.10.\n\n### Workarounds\nTo avoid the exploitation of this bug, comments can be disabled for untrusted users until an upgrade to a patched version has been performed. Note that users with edit rights will still be able to add comments via the object editor even if comments have been disabled.\n\n### Resources\n* https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-rendering/commit/c73fa3ccd4ac59057e48e5d4325f659e78e8f86d\n* https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XRENDERING-689\n* https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20375\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Open an issue in [Jira XWiki.org](https://jira.xwiki.org/)\n* Email us at [Security Mailing List](mailto:security@xwiki.org)\n\n### Attribution\n\nThis vulnerability has been reported on Intigriti by René de Sain @renniepak.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.2-milestone-1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "13.10.11"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "14.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "14.4.7"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "14.5"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "14.10"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-rendering/security/advisories/GHSA-32mf-57h2-64x9"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-53836"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-rendering/commit/c73fa3ccd4ac59057e48e5d4325f659e78e8f86d"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-rendering"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XRENDERING-689"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20375"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-863", "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-07-14T22:03:06Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-07-15T00:15:22Z"
  }
}