CVE-2023-36469: Xwiki platform notifications ui XWiki Platform Vulnerable To Code Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-94pf-92hw-2hjc
CVSS 9.9
CWE-74
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-36469 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.9) xwiki platform vulnerable to code vulnerability (CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')) affecting Xwiki platform notifications ui libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves xwiki platform vulnerable to code injection through notificationrssservice. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 14.10.6, 15.2-rc-1.

CVE-2023-36469 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-36469
GHSA Identifier GHSA-94pf-92hw-2hjc
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.9
CWE Classification CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
Affected Product Xwiki platform notifications ui
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-2023-36469

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xwiki platform notifications 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.

org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-notifications-ui fixed: 14.10.6
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-notifications-ui</artifactId>
    <version>14.10.6</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-notifications-ui fixed: 15.2-rc-1
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-notifications-ui</artifactId>
    <version>15.2-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.platform

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-36469, 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 notifications ui in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 14.10.6), 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-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component. In Xwiki platform notifications 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

### Impact Any user who can edit their own user profile and notification settings can execute arbitrary script macros including Groovy and Python macros that allow remote code execution including unrestricted read and write access to all wiki contents. This can be reproduced with the following steps: 1. Login as a user without script or programming right. 2. Go to the notifications preferences in your user profile. 3. Disable the "Own Events Filter" and enable notifications in the notification menu for "Like". 4. Set your first name to `{{cache id="security" timeToLive="1"}}{{groovy}}println("Hello from groovy!"){{/groovy}}{{/cache}}` 5. Click on the like button at the bottom left of the user profile. 6. Click on the notifications bell in the top bar and then on "RSS Feed". If the text "Profile of Hello from groovy!" and/or "liked by Hello from groovy!" is displayed, the attack succeeded. The expected result would have been that the entered first name is displayed as-is in the description of the feed. ### Patches This has been patched in XWiki 14.10.6 and 15.2RC1. ### Workarounds The main security fix can be manually applied by patching the affected document `XWiki.Notifications.Code.NotificationRSSService` as shown in the [patch](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/217e5bb7a657f2991b154a16ef4d5ae9c29ad39c#diff-7221a548809fa2ba34348556f4b5bd436463c559ebdf691197932ee7ce4478ca). This will break the link to the differences, though as this requires additional changes to Velocity templates as shown in the patch. While the [default](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/217e5bb7a657f2991b154a16ef4d5ae9c29ad39c#diff-b261c6eac3108c3e6e734054c28a78f59d3439ab72fe8582dadf87670a0d15a4) template is available in the instance and can be easily patched, the template for mentions is contained in a `.jar`-file and thus cannot be fixed without replacing that jar. ### References * https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20610 * https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/217e5bb7a657f2991b154a16ef4d5ae9c29ad39c

CVE-2023-36469 Affected Xwiki platform notifications ui Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
14.10.615.2-rc-1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-notifications-ui
Maven
≥ 9.6-rc-1
< 14.10.6
14.10.6
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-notifications-ui
Maven
≥ 15.0-rc-1
< 15.2-rc-1
15.2-rc-1

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-36469?
CVE-2023-36469 is a security vulnerability in Xwiki platform notifications ui involving XWiki Platform vulnerable to Code injection through NotificationRSSService under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection').
Which Xwiki platform notifications ui versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 14.10.6, 15.2-rc-1 across affected packages: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-notifications-ui.
What version fixes CVE-2023-36469?
Upgrading to 14.10.6, 15.2-rc-1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xwiki-platform-notifications-ui affected?
Yes, org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-notifications-ui is affected in releases prior to 14.10.6, 15.2-rc-1. Upgrade your dependency to 14.10.6, 15.2-rc-1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-36469?
CVE-2023-36469 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-2023-36469?
CVE-2023-36469 is classified under CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-36469?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.xwiki.platform'. 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-94pf-92hw-2hjc",
  "modified" : "2023-06-30T20:42:02Z",
  "published" : "2023-06-30T20:42:02Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-36469" ],
  "summary" : "XWiki Platform vulnerable to  Code injection through NotificationRSSService",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nAny user who can edit their own user profile and notification settings can execute arbitrary script macros including Groovy and Python macros that allow remote code execution including unrestricted read and write access to all wiki contents. This can be reproduced with the following steps:\n\n1. Login as a user without script or programming right.\n2. Go to the notifications preferences in your user profile.\n3. Disable the \"Own Events Filter\" and enable notifications in the notification menu for \"Like\".\n4. Set your first name to `{{cache id=\"security\" timeToLive=\"1\"}}{{groovy}}println(\"Hello from groovy!\"){{/groovy}}{{/cache}}`\n5. Click on the like button at the bottom left of the user profile.\n6. Click on the notifications bell in the top bar and then on \"RSS Feed\".\n\nIf the text \"Profile of Hello from groovy!\" and/or \"liked by Hello from groovy!\" is displayed, the attack succeeded. The expected result would have been that the entered first name is displayed as-is in the description of the feed.\n\n### Patches\nThis has been patched in XWiki 14.10.6 and 15.2RC1.\n\n### Workarounds\nThe main security fix can be manually applied by patching the affected document `XWiki.Notifications.Code.NotificationRSSService` as shown in the [patch](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/217e5bb7a657f2991b154a16ef4d5ae9c29ad39c#diff-7221a548809fa2ba34348556f4b5bd436463c559ebdf691197932ee7ce4478ca). This will break the link to the differences, though as this requires additional changes to Velocity templates as shown in the patch. While the [default](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/217e5bb7a657f2991b154a16ef4d5ae9c29ad39c#diff-b261c6eac3108c3e6e734054c28a78f59d3439ab72fe8582dadf87670a0d15a4) template is available in the instance and can be easily patched, the template for mentions is contained in a `.jar`-file and thus cannot be fixed without replacing that jar.\n\n### References\n* https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20610\n* https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/217e5bb7a657f2991b154a16ef4d5ae9c29ad39c\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.platform:xwiki-platform-notifications-ui"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "9.6-rc-1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "14.10.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-notifications-ui"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "15.0-rc-1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "15.2-rc-1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/security/advisories/GHSA-94pf-92hw-2hjc"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-36469"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/217e5bb7a657f2991b154a16ef4d5ae9c29ad39c"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/217e5bb7a657f2991b154a16ef4d5ae9c29ad39c#diff-7221a548809fa2ba34348556f4b5bd436463c559ebdf691197932ee7ce4478ca"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/217e5bb7a657f2991b154a16ef4d5ae9c29ad39c#diff-b261c6eac3108c3e6e734054c28a78f59d3439ab72fe8582dadf87670a0d15a4"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20610"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-74" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-06-30T20:42:02Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-06-29T21:15:09Z"
  }
}