CVE-2023-50721: Xwiki platform search ui Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CRITICALCVE-2023-50721 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.9) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Xwiki platform search ui libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves remote code execution from account through searchadmin. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 14.10.15, 15.5.2, 15.7-rc-1.
CVE-2023-50721 at a Glance
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).
How to Fix CVE-2023-50721
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xwiki platform search ui dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
<dependency>
<groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
<artifactId>xwiki-platform-search-ui</artifactId>
<version>14.10.15</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
<artifactId>xwiki-platform-search-ui</artifactId>
<version>15.5.2</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
<artifactId>xwiki-platform-search-ui</artifactId>
<version>15.7-rc-1</version>
</dependency>
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.platform
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-50721, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.platform
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xwiki platform search ui in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 14.10.15), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.platform 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 platform search ui, 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
CVE-2023-50721 Affected Xwiki platform search ui Versions
3 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui
|
Maven |
≥ 4.5-rc-1
< 14.10.15
|
14.10.15
|
|
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui
|
Maven |
≥ 15.0-rc-1
< 15.5.2
|
15.5.2
|
|
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui
|
Maven |
≥ 15.6-rc-1
< 15.7-rc-1
|
15.7-rc-1
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-50721?
Which Xwiki platform search ui versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2023-50721?
Is xwiki-platform-search-ui affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-50721?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-50721?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-50721?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-7654-vfh6-rw6x",
"modified" : "2023-12-16T00:35:25Z",
"published" : "2023-12-16T00:35:25Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-50721" ],
"summary" : "Remote code execution from account through SearchAdmin",
"details" : "### Impact\nThe search administration interface doesn't properly escape the id and label of search user interface extensions, allowing the injection of XWiki syntax containing script macros including Groovy macros that allow remote code execution, impacting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the whole XWiki instance. This attack can be executed by any user who can edit some wiki page like the user's profile (editable by default) as user interface extensions that will be displayed in the search administration can be added on any document by any user.\n\nTo reproduce, edit any document with the object editor, add an object of type `XWiki.UIExtensionClass`, set \"Extension Point Id\" to `org.xwiki.platform.search`, set \"Extension ID\" to `{{async}}{{groovy}}services.logging.getLogger(\"attacker\").error(\"Attack from extension id succeeded!\"){{/groovy}}{{/async}}`, set \"Extension Parameters\" to `label={{async}}{{groovy}}services.logging.getLogger(\"attacker\").error(\"Attack from label succeeded!\"){{/groovy}}{{/async}}` and \"Extension Scope\" to \"Current User\". Then open the page `XWiki.SearchAdmin`, e.g., on http://localhost:8080/xwiki/bin/view/XWiki/SearchAdmin. If there are error log messages in XWiki's log that announce that attacks succeeded, the instance is vulnerable.\n\n\n### Patches\nThe necessary escaping has been added in XWiki 14.10.15, 15.5.2 and 15.7RC1.\n\n### Workarounds\nThe [patch](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/62863736d78ffd60d822279c5fb7fb9593042766#diff-2272c913e5ca43813e52f8fa748c9b043bf0f01561908d7eba6ca3601d8475c4) can be manually applied to the page `XWiki.SearchAdmin`.\n\n### References\n* https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/62863736d78ffd60d822279c5fb7fb9593042766\n* https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21200",
"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.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "4.5-rc-1"
}, {
"fixed" : "14.10.15"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "15.0-rc-1"
}, {
"fixed" : "15.5.2"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "15.6-rc-1"
}, {
"fixed" : "15.7-rc-1"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/security/advisories/GHSA-7654-vfh6-rw6x"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50721"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/62863736d78ffd60d822279c5fb7fb9593042766"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21200"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-94" ],
"severity" : "CRITICAL",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2023-12-16T00:35:25Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2023-12-15T19:15:09Z"
}
}