CVE-2023-50721: Xwiki platform search ui Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-7654-vfh6-rw6x
CVSS 9.9
CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-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

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-50721
GHSA Identifier GHSA-7654-vfh6-rw6x
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.9
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Xwiki platform search 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-2023-50721

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.

org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui fixed: 14.10.15
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-search-ui</artifactId>
    <version>14.10.15</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui fixed: 15.5.2
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-search-ui</artifactId>
    <version>15.5.2</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui fixed: 15.7-rc-1
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-search-ui</artifactId>
    <version>15.7-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.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

### Impact The 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. To 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. ### Patches The necessary escaping has been added in XWiki 14.10.15, 15.5.2 and 15.7RC1. ### Workarounds The [patch](https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/62863736d78ffd60d822279c5fb7fb9593042766#diff-2272c913e5ca43813e52f8fa748c9b043bf0f01561908d7eba6ca3601d8475c4) can be manually applied to the page `XWiki.SearchAdmin`. ### References * https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/62863736d78ffd60d822279c5fb7fb9593042766 * https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21200

CVE-2023-50721 Affected Xwiki platform search ui Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
14.10.1515.5.215.7-rc-1
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?
CVE-2023-50721 is a security vulnerability in Xwiki platform search ui involving Remote code execution from account through SearchAdmin under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Xwiki platform search ui versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 14.10.15, 15.5.2, 15.7-rc-1 across affected packages: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui.
What version fixes CVE-2023-50721?
Upgrading to 14.10.15, 15.5.2, 15.7-rc-1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is xwiki-platform-search-ui affected?
Yes, org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui is affected in releases prior to 14.10.15, 15.5.2, 15.7-rc-1. Upgrade your dependency to 14.10.15, 15.5.2, 15.7-rc-1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-50721?
CVE-2023-50721 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-2023-50721?
CVE-2023-50721 is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (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.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-50721?
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-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"
  }
}