CVE-2023-26055: Xwiki commons xml XWiki Platform May Allow Privilege Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-8cw6-4r32-6r3h
CVSS 9.9
CWE-150
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-26055 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.9) xwiki platform may allow privilege vulnerability (CWE-150: Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences) affecting Xwiki commons xml libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves xwiki platform may allow privilege escalation to programming rights via user's first name. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 13.10.9, 14.4.4, 14.7-rc-1.

CVE-2023-26055 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-26055
GHSA Identifier GHSA-8cw6-4r32-6r3h
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.9
CWE Classification CWE-150: Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences
Affected Product Xwiki commons xml
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-2023-26055

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xwiki commons xml 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.commons:xwiki-commons-xml fixed: 13.10.9
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.commons</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-commons-xml</artifactId>
    <version>13.10.9</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.commons:xwiki-commons-xml fixed: 14.4.4
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.commons</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-commons-xml</artifactId>
    <version>14.4.4</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.commons:xwiki-commons-xml fixed: 14.7-rc-1
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.commons</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-commons-xml</artifactId>
    <version>14.7-rc-1</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.commons

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-26055, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

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

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xwiki commons xml in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 13.10.9), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.commons 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-150: Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences, where the product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as escape, meta, or control character sequences when they are sent to a downstream component. In Xwiki commons xml, 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 Any user can edit his own profile and inject code which is going to be executed with programming right. Steps to reproduce: * Set your first name to ``` {{cache id="userProfile"}}{{groovy}}println("Hello from groovy!"){{/groovy}}{{/cache}} ``` The first name appears as interpreted "`Hello from groovy`" instead of the expected fully escaped "`{{cache id="userProfile"}}{{groovy}}println("Hello from groovy!"){{/groovy}}{{/cache}}`". The same vulnerability can also be exploited in all other places where short text properties are displayed, e.g., in apps created using [Apps Within Minutes](https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/App%20Within%20Minutes%20Application) that use a short text field. ### Patches The problem has been patched on versions 13.10.9, 14.4.4, 14.7RC1. ### Workarounds There are no other workarounds than upgrading XWiki or patching the xwiki-commons-xml JAR file. ### References * https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-19793 * https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-19794 * https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XCOMMONS-2498 ### 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)

CVE-2023-26055 Affected Xwiki commons xml Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
13.10.914.4.414.7-rc-1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.xwiki.commons:xwiki-commons-xml
Maven
≥ 3.1-milestone-1
< 13.10.9
13.10.9
org.xwiki.commons:xwiki-commons-xml
Maven
≥ 14.0-rc-1
< 14.4.4
14.4.4
org.xwiki.commons:xwiki-commons-xml
Maven
≥ 14.5
< 14.7-rc-1
14.7-rc-1

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-26055?
CVE-2023-26055 is a security vulnerability in Xwiki commons xml involving XWiki Platform may allow privilege escalation to programming rights via user's first name under CWE-150: Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences.
Which Xwiki commons xml versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 13.10.9, 14.4.4, 14.7-rc-1 across affected packages: org.xwiki.commons:xwiki-commons-xml.
What version fixes CVE-2023-26055?
Upgrading to 13.10.9, 14.4.4, 14.7-rc-1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xwiki-commons-xml affected?
Yes, org.xwiki.commons:xwiki-commons-xml is affected in releases prior to 13.10.9, 14.4.4, 14.7-rc-1. Upgrade your dependency to 13.10.9, 14.4.4, 14.7-rc-1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-26055?
CVE-2023-26055 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-2023-26055?
CVE-2023-26055 is classified under CWE-150: Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences (The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could be interpreted as escape, meta, or control character sequences when they are sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-26055?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.commons'. 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-8cw6-4r32-6r3h",
  "modified" : "2023-03-03T22:49:27Z",
  "published" : "2023-03-03T22:49:27Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-26055" ],
  "summary" : "XWiki Platform may allow privilege escalation to programming rights via user's first name",
  "details" : "### Impact\nAny user can edit his own profile and inject code which is going to be executed with programming right.\n\nSteps to reproduce:\n\n* Set your first name to\n\n```\n    {{cache id=\"userProfile\"}}{{groovy}}println(\"Hello from groovy!\"){{/groovy}}{{/cache}}\n```\n\nThe first name appears as interpreted \"`Hello from groovy`\" instead of the expected fully escaped \"`{{cache id=\"userProfile\"}}{{groovy}}println(\"Hello from groovy!\"){{/groovy}}{{/cache}}`\".\n\nThe same vulnerability can also be exploited in all other places where short text properties are displayed, e.g., in apps created using [Apps Within Minutes](https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/App%20Within%20Minutes%20Application) that use a short text field.\n\n### Patches\nThe problem has been patched on versions 13.10.9, 14.4.4, 14.7RC1.\n\n### Workarounds\nThere are no other workarounds than upgrading XWiki or patching the xwiki-commons-xml JAR file.\n\n### References\n* https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-19793\n* https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-19794\n* https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XCOMMONS-2498\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",
  "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.commons:xwiki-commons-xml"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.1-milestone-1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "13.10.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.commons:xwiki-commons-xml"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "14.0-rc-1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "14.4.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.commons:xwiki-commons-xml"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "14.5"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "14.7-rc-1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-commons/security/advisories/GHSA-8cw6-4r32-6r3h"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-26055"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-commons"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XCOMMONS-2498"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-19793"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-19794"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-150" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-03-03T22:49:27Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-03-02T19:15:00Z"
  }
}