CVE-2024-37901: XWiki Platform vulnerable to remote code execution from account via SearchSuggestConfigSheet

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.

• No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
• EPSS 1.1%, percentile 64: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.1% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 64% 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-search-ui (Maven) >= 9.2-rc-1, < 14.10.21, fixed in 14.10.21; org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui (Maven) >= 15.0-rc-1, < 15.5.5, fixed in 15.5.5; org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui (Maven) >= 15.6-rc-1, < 15.10.2, fixed in 15.10.2. 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. Any user with edit right on any page can perform arbitrary remote code execution by adding instances of XWiki.SearchSuggestConfig and XWiki.SearchSuggestSourceClass to their user profile or any other page. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the whole XWiki installation. This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 14.10.21, 15.5.5 and 15.10.2.

From the GitHub advisory

Impact Any user with edit right on any page can perform arbitrary remote code execution by adding instances of XWiki.SearchSuggestConfig and XWiki.SearchSuggestSourceClass to their user profile or any other page. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the whole XWiki installation.

To reproduce on an instance, as a user without script nor programming rights, add an object of type XWiki.SearchSuggestConfig to your profile page, and an object of type XWiki.SearchSuggestSourceClass as well. On this last object, set both name and icon properties to $services.logging.getLogger("attacker").error("I got programming: $services.security.authorization.hasAccess('programming')") and limit and engine to {{/html}}{{async}}{{velocity}}$services.logging.getLogger("attacker").error("I got programming: $services.security.authorization.hasAccess('programming')"){{/velocity}}{{/async}}. Save and display the page. If the logs contain any message ERROR attacker - I got programming: true then the instance is vulnerable.

Patches This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 14.10.21, 15.5.5 and 15.10.2.

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

References - https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-21473 - https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/742cd4591642be4cdcaf68325f17540e0934e64e

Weakness type: CWE-95, CWE-862, CWE-94.

Product: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-search-ui (Maven) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2024-07-31

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Attack requirements: none
• Privileges required: low (any account)
• User interaction: none

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 none, automatable no, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.06% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 64.

Timeline

• 2024-07-31 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2024-07-31 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-h63h-5c77-77p5 published (critical)
• 2024-08-13 — 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-h63h-5c77-77p5 github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2024-37901 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2024-37901 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

Critical Maven advisories · Today’s Security Digest