CVE-2023-35162 Scanner

XWiki is an advanced open-source enterprise wiki software platform written in Java, commonly used by organizations to create and manage content collaboratively. It allows users to create and collaborate on documents and offers hierarchical organization with detailed access control. XWiki is preferred by businesses, educators, and knowledge managers for its customizable nature and integration capabilities. The platform is also used for content management, knowledge sharing, and as an information repository. XWiki provides robust extensions and plugins to enhance its functionalities. Given its versatility, XWiki finds applications across various sectors including academia, corporate, and community projects.

The Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability detected in XWiki allows an attacker to inject JavaScript via the xcontinue parameter. This vulnerability is a type of injection attack where an attacker can exploit susceptible web applications by introducing malicious scripts. When the malicious script is executed, it can lead to serious security risks, such as compromising user accounts or accessing sensitive information. XSS vulnerabilities occur when an application includes unvalidated data in web pages sent to users' browsers without proper sanitation. In this case, reflected XSS is used, where the injected script is reflected off a web server and executed in the victim's browser.

The vulnerability is found in the previewactions template with the vulnerable xcontinue parameter within XWiki. This parameter, when manipulated, allows for the injection of JavaScript payloads that execute when the page is accessed. The attacker must convince a user to visit a specially crafted URL containing the malicious script for exploitation. Such vulnerabilities take advantage of web page rendering processes that do not sanitize user input correctly. Security testing for this vulnerability involves checking for the presence of injected scripts in the HTTP response and ensuring proper response headers are in place.

Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to several adverse effects including unauthorized access to the application or personal user data theft. XSS attacks can also compromise user accounts by stealing session cookies or other credentials. In some cases, XSS can provide a vector for further attacks against both the user and the web application. Businesses may face reputational damage and potential data breaches due to this vulnerability. Furthermore, XSS can often be a precursor to more severe security issues, such as data corruption or control of the application.

REFERENCES

• https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20342
• https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/blob/244dbbaa0738a0c40b19929c0369c8b62ae5236e/xwiki-platform-core/xwiki-platform-flamingo/xwiki-platform-flamingo-skin/xwiki-platform-flamingo-skin-resources/src/main/resources/flamingo/previewactions.vm#L48
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-35162