CVE-2023-36470
CriticalCVSS 9.9Exploitation Probability (EPSS)
Elevated risk74th percentile - higher than 74% of all known CVEs
Summary
XWiki Platform allows attackers to inject XWiki syntax and Velocity code by editing documents with an icon set, leading to remote code execution. Various attack vectors, including the use of the icon set in HTML, can be exploited.
Risk Assessment
This vulnerability threatens the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire XWiki instance, potentially leading to serious consequences for the organization.
Recommendation
It is recommended to upgrade to XWiki version 14.10.6 or 15.1, which contain security patches. Users should also avoid editing icon sets without appropriate permissions.
Other vulnerabilities in XWiki Platform
See all- CVE-2026-33137Critical
A vulnerability in XWiki Platform versions starting with 15.10.6 and prior to 18.1.0-rc-1, 17.10.3, 17.4.9, and 16.10.17. The POST /wikis/{wikiName} API performs a XAR import without authentication or authorization checks, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to create or update documents in the target wiki.
- CVE-2026-23734Critical
A vulnerability in XWiki Platform allows reading configuration files by manipulating the resource parameter in ssx and jsx endpoints, leading to Path Traversal. Affects versions prior to 18.1.0-rc-1, 17.10.3, 17.4.9, and 16.10.17.
- CVE-2026-33229Critical
XWiki Platform is a wiki platform. Prior to versions 17.4.8 and 17.10.1, an improperly protected scripting API allows users with script right to bypass the Velocity sandbox and execute arbitrary Python scripts, leading to full access to the XWiki instance.
- CVE-2023-40573Critical
XWiki Platform has a vulnerability that allows remote code execution by an attacker with edit rights on the wiki. It exploits a flaw in the job scheduler and an issue with content author authorization. This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki versions 14.10.9 and 15.4RC1.
- CVE-2023-40572Critical
XWiki Platform is vulnerable to a CSRF attack in the create action, allowing remote code execution by users with appropriate permissions. If a user with script rights sees a specific log message, the XWiki installation is at risk.
- CVE-2023-40177Critical
XWiki Platform allows registered users to execute arbitrary scripts in the content field of their profile page, leading to rights escalation. This issue has been present since version 4.3M2 when support for the content field was added in the AppWithinMinutes application.
- CVE-2023-40176Critical
XWiki Platform has a stored XSS vulnerability that can be exploited by registered users by setting a malicious payload in the time zone user preference. Although the time zone is selected from a dropdown, it can still be set using JavaScript or the appropriate URL.
- CVE-2023-37914Critical
XWiki Platform allows users who can view `Invitation.WebHome` to execute arbitrary script macros, including Groovy and Python, leading to remote code execution. This vulnerability allows unrestricted read and write access to all wiki contents.
- CVE-2023-37462Critical
XWiki Platform has a vulnerability due to improper escaping in the `SkinsCode.XWikiSkinsSheet` document. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary script macros, including Groovy and Python, leading to remote code execution and unrestricted access to wiki content.
- CVE-2023-37277Critical
XWiki Platform has a vulnerability that allows remote code execution via a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack using the REST API. Exploitation of this flaw by a user with programming rights can impact the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of the entire XWiki installation.
Original NVD description (English source)
XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform offering runtime services for applications built on top of it. By either creating a new or editing an existing document with an icon set, an attacker can inject XWiki syntax and Velocity code that is executed with programming rights and thus allows remote code execution. There are different attack vectors, the simplest is the Velocity code in the icon set's HTML or XWiki syntax definition. The [icon picker](https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/Icon%20Theme%20Application#HIconPicker) can be used to trigger the rendering of any icon set. The XWiki syntax variant of the icon set is also used without any escaping in some documents, allowing to inject XWiki syntax including script macros into a document that might have programming right, for this the currently used icon theme needs to be edited. Further, the HTML output of the icon set is output as JSON in the icon picker and this JSON is interpreted as XWiki syntax, allowing again the injection of script macros into a document with programming right and thus allowing remote code execution. This impacts the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the whole XWiki instance. This issue has been patched in XWiki 14.10.6 and 15.1. Icon themes now require script right and the code in the icon theme is executed within the context of the icon theme, preventing any rights escalation. A macro for displaying icons has been introduced to avoid injecting the raw wiki syntax of an icon set into another document. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

