CVE-2023-45136: XWiki Platform web templates vulnerable to reflected XSS in the create document form if name validation is enabled

Should you act?

Critical and remotely reachable

No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

• Not in CISA KEV, but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
• EPSS 5.1%, percentile 92: FIRST’s model estimates a 5.1% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 92% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Needs a user to click or open something. Phishing makes that realistic, but it is not wormable.
• Only applies if your dependency tree includes org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates (Maven) >= 12.0-rc-1, < 14.10.12, fixed in 14.10.12; org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates (Maven) >= 15.0-rc-1, < 15.5-rc-1, fixed in 15.5-rc-1. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform offering runtime services for applications built on top of it. When document names are validated according to a name strategy (disabled by default), XWiki starting in version 12.0-rc-1 and prior to versions 12.10.12 and 15.5-rc-1 is vulnerable to a reflected cross-site scripting attack in the page creation form. This allows an attacker to execute arbitrary actions with the rights of the user opening the malicious link. Depending on the rights of the user, this may allow remote code execution and full read and write access to the whole XWiki installation. This has been patched in XWiki 14.10.12 and 15.5-rc-1 by adding appropriate escaping. The vulnerable template file createinline.vm is part of XWiki's WAR and can be patched by manually applying the changes from the fix.

From the GitHub advisory

Impact When document names are validated according to a name strategy (disabled by default), XWiki is vulnerable to a reflected XSS attack in the page creation form. To reproduce, make sure that "Validate names before saving" is enabled in the administration under "Editing" -> "Name strategies" and then open /xwiki/bin/create/Main/%3Cscript%3Ealert%28%27Test%20Test%20Test%20Test%20Test%27%29%3C%2Fscript%3E where is the URL of your XWiki installation. This displays an alert if the installation is vulnerable. This allows an attacker to execute arbitrary actions with the rights of the user opening the malicious link. Depending on the rights of the user, this may allow remote code execution and full read and write access to the whole XWiki installation.

Patches This has been patched in XWiki 14.10.12 and 15.5-RC-1 by adding appropriate escaping.

Workarounds The vulnerable template file createinline.vm is part of XWiki's WAR and can be patched by manually applying the changes from the fix.

Weakness type: CWE-79.

Product: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates (Maven) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2023-10-25

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Privileges required: none (no login)
• User interaction: required (a user must click/open something)
• Scope: changed (can affect other components)

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

• CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc, automatable no, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 5.12% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 92.

Timeline

• 2023-10-25 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2023-10-25 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-qcj9-gcpg-4w2w published (critical)
• 2024-09-10 — CVE record last updated

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vulnerability records

1. GitHub Advisory GHSA-qcj9-gcpg-4w2w github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2023-45136 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2023-45136 nvd.nist.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

1. github.com github.com
2. github.com github.com
3. jira.xwiki.org jira.xwiki.org

Critical Maven advisories · Today’s Security Digest