CVE-2024-55877: XWiki allows remote code execution from account through macro descriptions and XWiki.XWikiSyntaxMacrosList

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 1.6%, percentile 76: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 76% 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-help-ui (Maven) >= 9.7-rc-1, < 15.10.11, fixed in 15.10.11; org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-help-ui (Maven) >= 16.0.0-rc-1, < 16.4.1, fixed in 16.4.1; org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-help-ui (Maven) >= 16.5.0-rc-1, < 16.5.0, fixed in 16.5.0. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform. Starting in version 9.7-rc-1 and prior to versions 15.10.11, 16.4.1, and 16.5.0, any user with an account can perform arbitrary remote code execution by adding instances of XWiki.WikiMacroClass to any page. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the whole XWiki installation. This vulnerability has been fixed in XWiki 15.10.11, 16.4.1 and 16.5.0. It is possible to manually apply the patch to the page XWiki.XWikiSyntaxMacrosList as a workaround.

From the GitHub advisory

Impact Any user with an account can perform arbitrary remote code execution by adding instances of XWiki.WikiMacroClass to any page. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the whole XWiki installation.

To reproduce on a instance, as a connected user without script nor programming rights, go to your user profile and add an object of type XWiki.WikiMacroClass. Set "Macro Id", "Macro Name" and "Macro Code" to any value, "Macro Visibility" to Current User and "Macro Description" to {{async}}{{groovy}}println("Hello from User macro!"){{/groovy}}{{/async}}. Save the page, then go to /xwiki/bin/view/XWiki/XWikiSyntaxMacrosList. If the description of your new macro reads "Hello from User macro!", then your instance is vulnerable.

Patches This vulnerability has been fixed in XWiki 15.10.11, 16.4.1 and 16.5.0.

Workarounds It is possible to manually apply this patch to the page XWiki.XWikiSyntaxMacrosList.

References

Weakness type: CWE-96, CWE-94.

Product: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-help-ui (Maven) · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2024-12-12

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): 1.60% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 76.

Timeline

• 2024-12-12 — CVE record published by GitHub_M
• 2024-12-12 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-2r87-74cx-2p7c published (critical)
• 2024-12-13 — 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-2r87-74cx-2p7c github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2024-55877 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2024-55877 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