CVE-2024-31988: XWiki Platform CSRF remote code execution through the realtime HTML Converter API

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 0.7%, percentile 52: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 52% of all scored CVEs (moderate). 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-realtime-ui (Maven) >= 13.9-rc-1, < 14.10.19, fixed in 14.10.19; org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-realtime-ui (Maven) >= 15.0-rc-1, < 15.5.4, fixed in 15.5.4; org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-realtime-ui (Maven) >= 15.6-rc-1, < 15.9, fixed in 15.9. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform. Starting in version 13.9-rc-1 and prior to versions 4.10.19, 15.5.4, and 15.10-rc-1, when the realtime editor is installed in XWiki, it allows arbitrary remote code execution with the interaction of an admin user with programming right. More precisely, by getting an admin user to either visit a crafted URL or to view an image with this URL that could be in a comment, the attacker can get the admin to execute arbitrary XWiki syntax including scripting macros with Groovy or Python code. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the whole XWiki installation. This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 14.10.19, 15.5.4 and 15.9. As a workaround, one may update RTFrontend.ConvertHTML manually with the patch. This will, however, break some synchronization processes in the realtime editor, so upgrading should be the preferred way on installations where this editor is used.

From the GitHub advisory

Impact When the realtime editor is installed in XWiki, it allows arbitrary remote code execution with the interaction of an admin user with programming right. More precisely, by getting an admin user to either visit a crafted URL or to view an image with this URL that could be in a comment, the attacker can get the admin to execute arbitrary XWiki syntax including scripting macros with Groovy or Python code. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the whole XWiki installation.

To reproduce on an XWiki installation, as an admin, click on /xwiki/bin/get/RTFrontend/ConvertHTML?wiki=xwiki&space=Main&page=WebHome&text=%7B%7Bvelocity%7D%7D%24logtool.error%28%22Hello%20from%20Velocity%20%21%22%29%7B%7B%2Fvelocity%7D%7D. If the error "Hello from Velocity!" gets logged then the installation is vulnerable.

Patches This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 14.10.19, 15.5.4 and 15.9.

Workarounds Update RTFrontend.ConvertHTML following this patch. This will, however, break some synchronization processes in the realtime editor, so upgrading should be the preferred way on installations where this editor is used.

References https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21424 https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/4896712ee6483da623f131be2e618f1f2b79cb8d

Weakness type: CWE-352.

Product: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-realtime-ui (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: 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): 0.70% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 52.

Timeline

• 2024-04-10 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2024-04-10 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-r5vh-gc3r-r24w published (critical)
• 2025-02-21 — 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-r5vh-gc3r-r24w github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2024-31988 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2024-31988 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. github.com github.com
6. jira.xwiki.org jira.xwiki.org

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