CVE-2024-31987: XWiki Platform remote code execution from account via custom skins support

Should you act?

Critical, preconditions apply

Severe if exploited, but exploitation needs conditions that may not apply to you. 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 1.4%, percentile 73: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.4% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 73% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
• Only applies if your dependency tree includes org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore (Maven) >= 6.4-milestone-1, < 14.10.19, fixed in 14.10.19; org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore (Maven) >= 15.0-rc-1, < 15.5.4, fixed in 15.5.4; org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore (Maven) >= 15.6-rc-1, < 15.10-rc-1, fixed in 15.10-rc-1. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform. Starting in version 6.4-milestone-1 and prior to versions 4.10.19, 15.5.4, and 15.10-rc-1, any user who can edit any page like their profile can create a custom skin with a template override that is executed with programming right, thus allowing remote code execution. This has been patched in XWiki 14.10.19, 15.5.4 and 15.10RC1. No known workarounds are available except for upgrading.

From the GitHub advisory

Impact Any user who can edit any page like their profile can create a custom skin with a template override that is executed with programming right, thus allowing remote code execution.

To reproduce, as a user without edit, script or admin right, add an object of class XWiki.XWikiSkins to your profile. Name it whatever you want and set the Base Skin to flamingo. Add an object of class XWikiSkinFileOverrideClass and set the path to macros.vm and the content to:

Back to your profile, click Test this skin. Force a refresh, just in case. If the error "Skin - I got programming: true" gets logged, the installation is vulnerable.

Patches This has been patched in XWiki 14.10.19, 15.5.4 and 15.10RC1.

Workarounds We're not aware of any workaround except upgrading.

Weakness type: CWE-862.

Product: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore (Maven) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2024-04-10

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Privileges required: low (any account)
• User interaction: none
• 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): 1.45% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 73.

Timeline

• 2024-04-10 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2024-04-10 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-cv55-v6rw-7r5v published (critical)
• 2024-08-20 — 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-cv55-v6rw-7r5v github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2024-31987 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2024-31987 nvd.nist.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

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

Critical Maven advisories · Today’s Security Digest