CVE-2021-43841: Xwiki platform oldcore Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9jq9-c2cv-pcrj
CVSS 4.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-43841 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.1) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Xwiki platform oldcore libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves cross-site scripting by svg upload in xwiki-platform. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 12.10.6, 13.3RC1.

CVE-2021-43841 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-43841
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9jq9-c2cv-pcrj
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Xwiki platform oldcore
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.1

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:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2021-43841

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xwiki platform oldcore 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-oldcore fixed: 12.10.6
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-oldcore</artifactId>
    <version>12.10.6</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore fixed: 13.3RC1
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-oldcore</artifactId>
    <version>13.3RC1</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources fixed: 13.3RC1
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources</artifactId>
    <version>13.3RC1</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources fixed: 12.10.6
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources</artifactId>
    <version>12.10.6</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-2021-43841, 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 oldcore in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 12.10.6), 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-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Xwiki platform oldcore, 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 When using default XWiki configuration, it's possible for an attacker to upload an SVG containing a script executed when executing the download action on the file. ### Patches This problem has been patched so that the default configuration doesn't allow to display the SVG files in the browser. ### Workarounds This issue can be fixed without the patch by setting properly the configuration to download or display files, see: https://www.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Documentation/AdminGuide/Attachments#HAttachmentdisplayordownload ### References https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-18368 ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [Jira](http://jira.xwiki.org) * Email us at [security ML](mailto:security@xwiki.org)

CVE-2021-43841 Affected Xwiki platform oldcore Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
12.10.613.3RC1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore
Maven
< 12.10.6
12.10.6
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore
Maven
≥ 13.0
< 13.3RC1
13.3RC1
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources
Maven
≥ 13.0
< 13.3RC1
13.3RC1
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources
Maven
< 12.10.6
12.10.6

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-43841?
CVE-2021-43841 is a security vulnerability in Xwiki platform oldcore involving Cross-site Scripting by SVG upload in xwiki-platform under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Xwiki platform oldcore versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 12.10.6, 13.3RC1 across affected packages: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore, org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources.
What version fixes CVE-2021-43841?
Upgrading to 12.10.6, 13.3RC1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xwiki-platform-oldcore affected?
Yes, org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore is affected in releases prior to 12.10.6, 13.3RC1. Upgrade your dependency to 12.10.6, 13.3RC1 or later.
Is xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources affected?
Yes, org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources is affected in releases prior to 13.3RC1, 12.10.6. Upgrade your dependency to 13.3RC1, 12.10.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-43841?
CVE-2021-43841 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-43841?
CVE-2021-43841 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-43841?
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-9jq9-c2cv-pcrj",
  "modified" : "2022-02-11T21:08:41Z",
  "published" : "2022-02-10T22:42:48Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-43841" ],
  "summary" : "Cross-site Scripting by SVG upload in xwiki-platform",
  "details" : "### Impact\nWhen using default XWiki configuration, it's possible for an attacker to upload an SVG containing a script executed when executing the download action on the file. \n\n### Patches\nThis problem has been patched so that the default configuration doesn't allow to display the SVG files in the browser.\n\n### Workarounds\nThis issue can be fixed without the patch by setting properly the configuration to download or display files, see: https://www.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Documentation/AdminGuide/Attachments#HAttachmentdisplayordownload\n\n### References\nhttps://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-18368\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Open an issue in [Jira](http://jira.xwiki.org)\n* Email us at [security ML](mailto:security@xwiki.org)\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "12.10.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "13.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "13.3RC1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 13.2"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "13.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "13.3RC1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 13.2"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-tool-configuration-resources"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "12.10.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/security/advisories/GHSA-9jq9-c2cv-pcrj"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43841"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/5853d492b3a274db0d94d560e2a5ea988a271c62"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-18368"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Documentation/AdminGuide/Attachments#HAttachmentdisplayordownload"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-02-07T16:42:20Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-02-04T23:15:00Z"
  }
}