CVE-2024-31981: XWiki Platform Privilege Escalation (PR) From User Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vxwr-wpjv-qjq7
Share
CVSS 9.9
CWE-862
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-31981 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.9) privilege escalation (pr) from user vulnerability (CWE-862: Missing Authorization) affecting XWiki Platform libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves privilege escalation (pr) from user registration through pdfclass. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 14.10.20, 15.5.4, 15.10-rc-1.

CVE-2024-31981 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-31981
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vxwr-wpjv-qjq7
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.9
CWE Classification CWE-862: Missing Authorization
Affected Product XWiki Platform
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-2024-31981

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected XWiki Platform 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: 14.10.20 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-oldcore</artifactId>
    <version>14.10.20</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore fixed: 15.5.4 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-oldcore</artifactId>
    <version>15.5.4</version>
</dependency>
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore fixed: 15.10-rc-1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.xwiki.platform</groupId>
    <artifactId>xwiki-platform-oldcore</artifactId>
    <version>15.10-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-2024-31981, 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 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 14.10.20), 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-862: Missing Authorization, where the product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. In XWiki Platform, 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 Remote code execution is possible via PDF export templates. To reproduce on an installation, register a new user account with username `PDFClass` if `XWiki.PDFClass` does not exist. On `XWiki.PDFClass`, use the class editor to add a "style" property of type "TextArea" and content type "Plain Text". Then, add an object of class `PDFClass` and set the "style" attribute to `$services.logging.getLogger('PDFClass').error("I got programming: $services.security.authorization.hasAccess('programming')")`. Finally, go to `<host>/xwiki/bin/export/Main/WebHome?format=pdf&pdftemplate=XWiki.PDFClass`. If the logs contain "ERROR PDFClass - I got programming: true", the instance is vulnerable. ### Patches This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 14.10.20, 15.5.4 and 15.10-rc-1. ### Workarounds If PDF templates are not typically used on the instance, an administrator can create the document `XWiki.PDFClass` and block its edition, after making sure that it does not contain a `style` attribute. Otherwise, the instance needs to be updated. ### References - https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21337 - https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d28e21a670c69880b951e415dd2ddd69d273eae9

CVE-2024-31981 Affected XWiki Platform Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
14.10.2015.5.415.10-rc-1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore
maven/org.xwiki.platform/xwiki-platform-oldcore
Maven
≥ 3.0.1
< 14.10.20
14.10.20
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore
maven/org.xwiki.platform/xwiki-platform-oldcore
Maven
≥ 15.0-rc-1
< 15.5.4
15.5.4
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore
maven/org.xwiki.platform/xwiki-platform-oldcore
Maven
≥ 15.6-rc-1
< 15.10-rc-1
15.10-rc-1

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/security/advisories/GHSA-vxwr-wpjv-qjq7
NVD — CVE-2024-31981 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-31981
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/480186f9d2fca880513da8bc5a609674d106cbd3
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/a4ad14d9c1605a5ab957237e505ebbb29f5b9d73
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d28e21a670c69880b951e415dd2ddd69d273eae9
XWiki Platform Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform
jira.xwiki.org/browse/xwiki-21337 WEB
https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21337

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-31981?
CVE-2024-31981 is a security vulnerability in XWiki Platform involving Privilege escalation (PR) from user registration through PDFClass under CWE-862: Missing Authorization.
Which XWiki Platform versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 14.10.20, 15.5.4, 15.10-rc-1 across affected packages: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore.
What version fixes CVE-2024-31981?
Upgrading to 14.10.20, 15.5.4, 15.10-rc-1 (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 14.10.20, 15.5.4, 15.10-rc-1. Upgrade your dependency to 14.10.20, 15.5.4, 15.10-rc-1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-31981?
CVE-2024-31981 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-2024-31981?
CVE-2024-31981 is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization (The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2024-31981?
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
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-vxwr-wpjv-qjq7",
  "modified" : "2024-04-10T22:00:51Z",
  "published" : "2024-04-10T17:11:45Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-31981" ],
  "summary" : "XWiki Platform: Privilege escalation (PR) from user registration through PDFClass",
  "details" : "### Impact\nRemote code execution is possible via PDF export templates.\nTo reproduce on an installation, register a new user account with username `PDFClass` if `XWiki.PDFClass` does not exist.\nOn `XWiki.PDFClass`, use the class editor to add a \"style\" property of type \"TextArea\" and content type \"Plain Text\".\nThen, add an object of class `PDFClass` and set the \"style\" attribute to `$services.logging.getLogger('PDFClass').error(\"I got programming: $services.security.authorization.hasAccess('programming')\")`.\nFinally, go to `<host>/xwiki/bin/export/Main/WebHome?format=pdf&pdftemplate=XWiki.PDFClass`. If the logs contain \"ERROR PDFClass - I got programming: true\", the instance is vulnerable.\n\n### Patches\nThis vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 14.10.20, 15.5.4 and 15.10-rc-1.\n\n### Workarounds\nIf PDF templates are not typically used on the instance, an administrator can create the document `XWiki.PDFClass` and block its edition, after making sure that it does not contain a `style` attribute.\nOtherwise, the instance needs to be updated.\n\n### References\n- https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21337\n- https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d28e21a670c69880b951e415dd2ddd69d273eae9\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-oldcore"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0.1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "14.10.20"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "15.0-rc-1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "15.5.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "15.6-rc-1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "15.10-rc-1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/security/advisories/GHSA-vxwr-wpjv-qjq7"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-31981"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/480186f9d2fca880513da8bc5a609674d106cbd3"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/a4ad14d9c1605a5ab957237e505ebbb29f5b9d73"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/d28e21a670c69880b951e415dd2ddd69d273eae9"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21337"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-862" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-04-10T17:11:45Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-04-10T20:15:08Z"
  }
}