CVE-2023-40176: Xwiki platform web templates Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-h8cm-3v5f-rgp6
CVSS 5.4
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-40176 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.4) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Xwiki platform web templates libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves xwiki platform stored cross-site scripting in the user profile via the timezone displayer. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 14.10.5.

CVE-2023-40176 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-40176
GHSA Identifier GHSA-h8cm-3v5f-rgp6
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.4
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Xwiki platform web templates
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.4

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:L/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 Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-40176

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xwiki platform web templates 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-web-templates fixed: 14.10.5
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-web-templates</artifactId>
    <version>14.10.5</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-2023-40176, 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 web templates in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 14.10.5), 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 web templates, 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 registered user can exploit a stored XSS through their user profile by setting the payload as the value of the time zone user preference. Even though the time zone is selected from a drop down (no free text value) it can still be set from JavaScript (using the browser developer tools) or by calling the save URL on the user profile with the right query string. Once the time zone is set it is displayed without escaping which means the payload gets executed for any user that visits the malicious user profile, allowing the attacker to steal information and even gain more access rights (escalation to programming rights). The problem is present [since version 4.1M2](https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-7847) when the time zone user preference was introduced. ### Patches The issue has been fixed in XWiki 14.10.5 and 15.1RC1 by https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d11ca5d781f8a42a85bc98eb82306c1431e764d4 . The main fix is in the [``displayer_timezone.vm``](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d11ca5d781f8a42a85bc98eb82306c1431e764d4#diff-57ffb6e10fa8768e59948f2becf755699570d97b78bb12a9623e0de49e6c5c7d) precisely at this [line](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d11ca5d781f8a42a85bc98eb82306c1431e764d4#diff-57ffb6e10fa8768e59948f2becf755699570d97b78bb12a9623e0de49e6c5c7dR40): $!escapetool.xml($value) By escaping the displayed time zone value we make sure the attacker's payload is not executed. ### Workarounds If you want to fix this problem on older versions of XWiki that have not been patched then you need to edit ``displayer_timezone.vm`` and escape the displayed time zone value [here](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/blob/xwiki-platform-14.10.4/xwiki-platform-core/xwiki-platform-web/xwiki-platform-web-templates/src/main/resources/templates/displayer_timezone.vm#L32): ``` - $!value + $!escapetool.xml($value) ``` ### References * JIRA issue https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20276 * Fix https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d11ca5d781f8a42a85bc98eb82306c1431e764d4 ### 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 found and reported by @michitux .

CVE-2023-40176 Affected Xwiki platform web templates Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
14.10.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates
Maven
≥ 4.1-milestone-2
< 14.10.5
14.10.5

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-40176?
CVE-2023-40176 is a security vulnerability in Xwiki platform web templates involving XWiki Platform Stored Cross-site Scripting in the user profile via the timezone displayer under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Xwiki platform web templates versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 14.10.5 across affected packages: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates.
What version fixes CVE-2023-40176?
Upgrading to 14.10.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xwiki-platform-web-templates affected?
Yes, org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates is affected in releases prior to 14.10.5. Upgrade your dependency to 14.10.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-40176?
CVE-2023-40176 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-40176?
CVE-2023-40176 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-2023-40176?
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-h8cm-3v5f-rgp6",
  "modified" : "2023-08-29T22:44:58Z",
  "published" : "2023-08-21T19:59:12Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-40176" ],
  "summary" : "XWiki Platform Stored Cross-site Scripting in the user profile via the timezone displayer",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nAny registered user can exploit a stored XSS through their user profile by setting the payload as the value of the time zone user preference. Even though the time zone is selected from a drop down (no free text value) it can still be set from JavaScript (using the browser developer tools) or by calling the save URL on the user profile with the right query string. Once the time zone is set it is displayed without escaping which means the payload gets executed for any user that visits the malicious user profile, allowing the attacker to steal information and even gain more access rights (escalation to programming rights).\n\nThe problem is present [since version 4.1M2](https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-7847) when the time zone user preference was introduced.\n\n### Patches\n\nThe issue has been fixed in XWiki 14.10.5 and 15.1RC1 by https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d11ca5d781f8a42a85bc98eb82306c1431e764d4 . The main fix is in the [``displayer_timezone.vm``](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d11ca5d781f8a42a85bc98eb82306c1431e764d4#diff-57ffb6e10fa8768e59948f2becf755699570d97b78bb12a9623e0de49e6c5c7d) precisely at this [line](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d11ca5d781f8a42a85bc98eb82306c1431e764d4#diff-57ffb6e10fa8768e59948f2becf755699570d97b78bb12a9623e0de49e6c5c7dR40):\n\n    $!escapetool.xml($value)\n\nBy escaping the displayed time zone value we make sure the attacker's payload is not executed.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nIf you want to fix this problem on older versions of XWiki that have not been patched then you need to edit ``displayer_timezone.vm`` and escape the displayed time zone value [here](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/blob/xwiki-platform-14.10.4/xwiki-platform-core/xwiki-platform-web/xwiki-platform-web-templates/src/main/resources/templates/displayer_timezone.vm#L32):\n\n```\n- $!value\n+ $!escapetool.xml($value)\n```\n\n### References\n\n* JIRA issue https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20276\n* Fix https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d11ca5d781f8a42a85bc98eb82306c1431e764d4\n\n### For more information\n\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 found and reported by @michitux .",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "4.1-milestone-2"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "14.10.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/security/advisories/GHSA-h8cm-3v5f-rgp6"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40176"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d11ca5d781f8a42a85bc98eb82306c1431e764d4"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-7847"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-08-21T19:59:12Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-08-23T20:15:08Z"
  }
}