CVE-2023-29523 is a critical-severity (CVSS 9.9) remote code execution vulnerability in org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore. 2 public exploit references exist, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore — see the affected versions and patch details below.
Code injection in display method used in user profiles in xwiki-platform
Exploitation Status
Proof-of-concept exploit code exists
- CISA’s SSVC triage found public proof-of-concept exploit code for this CVE, though no confirmed active exploitation.
- A successful exploit gives an attacker total control of the affected component, not partial access.
Exploitation and automatability from CISA’s SSVC triage for CVE-2023-29523.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
How urgent is this, really
CVE-2023-29523 plotted by exploitation likelihood (EPSS) against impact (CVSS). The shaded corner — EPSS 50%+ and CVSS 7.0+ — is where this CVE doesn't sit, though severity or exploitability alone can still warrant action.
Where this sits among everything scored
Of 378,156 CVEs with a current EPSS score, this one falls in the < 10% band (highlighted). Real counts from FIRST.org, not a sample — log-scaled since the landscape is heavily right-skewed.
Real-World Exposure
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore☕org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore☕org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcoreReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Impact
Any user who can edit their own user profile can execute arbitrary script macros including Groovy and Python macros that allow remote code execution including unrestricted read and write access to all wiki contents. The following syntax, to be put, e.g., in the about section of the user profile, demonstrates a proof of concept:
{{html wiki="true"}}~{~{~/~h~t~m~l~}~}~ ~{~{~c~a~c~h~e~}~}~{~{~g~r~o~o~v~y~}~}~p~r~i~n~t~l~n~(~1~)~{~{~/~g~r~o~o~v~y~}~}~{~{~/~c~a~c~h~e~}~}~{{/html}}
While it would be expected that the above code is displayed just without the ~, in fact just "1" is displayed, followed by a lot of raw HTML code. The same vulnerability can also be exploited in other contexts where the display method on a document is used to display a field with wiki syntax, for example in applications created using App Within Minutes.
Patches
This has been patched in XWiki 13.10.11, 14.4.8, 14.10.2 and 15.0RC1.
Workarounds
There is no workaround apart from upgrading.
References
- https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20327
- https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/0d547181389f7941e53291af940966413823f61c
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in Jira XWiki.org
- Email us at Security Mailing List
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore | ≥ 3.3-milestone-1&&< 13.10.11 | 13.10.11org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore:13.10.11 |
| ☕Maven | org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore | ≥ 14.0-rc-1&&< 14.4.8 | 14.4.8org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore:14.4.8 |
| ☕Maven | org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore | ≥ 14.5&&< 14.10.2 | 14.10.2org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore:14.10.2 |
Research use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore to 13.10.11 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2023-29523 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like CVE-2023-29523 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to CVE-2023-29523. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2023-29523 in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds CVE-2023-29523 across Maven dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.