CVE-2022-41929 pertains to a medium-severity vulnerability identified in XWiki. This vulnerability allows an incorrectly authorized user with only Script rights to enable or disable a user account within the application. Such operations are intended solely for users with administrative privileges. Organizations utilizing affected versions must address this issue urgently to mitigate potential security risks.
The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 4.9, indicating a medium level of severity. The risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to user account management functionalities, which could lead to exploitation by malicious actors. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to safeguard against this vulnerability.
The issue has been addressed in XWiki versions 13.10.7, 14.4.2, and 14.5RC1. Organizations running versions prior to these must take immediate action to apply the necessary updates to ensure their systems remain secure.
As of now, there are no known public exploits, and the vulnerability is not included in the KEV database. This indicates that while the risk is present, active exploitation has not been observed.
Given the potential impact of this vulnerability, organizations should assess their risk exposure and take prompt action to remediate any instances of the affected software.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability exists in the User#setDisabledStatus function of the org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore component. According to the official description, the absence of proper authorization checks permits users with only Script rights to modify user account states, a functionality reserved for administrators.
The CVSS vector for this vulnerability is: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. The indicated attack vector is NETWORK, and the attack complexity is rated as LOW, with HIGH privileges required and no user interaction needed.
The integrity impact is assessed as HIGH, indicating that unauthorized changes to user statuses can significantly affect the application's security posture. The confidentiality and availability impacts are rated as NONE.
This vulnerability has been registered under CWE-862, which relates to missing authorization.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate authorization checks implemented within the User#setDisabledStatus function. Essentially, the system fails to properly verify user privileges before allowing the modification of important user account settings.
The attack vector is categorized as NETWORK, allowing attackers to exploit the vulnerability remotely. The attack complexity is determined to be LOW, as it does not require sophisticated techniques to exploit. HIGH privileges are required, which means that a user must have Script rights to conduct the attack.
Importantly, no user interaction is necessary, making it easier for an attacker to execute the exploit without requiring any action from the targeted user. The integrity impact is classified as HIGH, reflecting the potential for unauthorized changes to user statuses, while confidentiality and availability impacts are rated as NONE.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of XWiki face significant risks. The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to manipulate user statuses, potentially locking out legitimate users or enabling unauthorized access to sensitive functions. This could lead to data breaches or unauthorized modifications within the application.
The blast radius for this vulnerability could be considerable, particularly in environments where user roles are not strictly controlled. With a CVSS score of 4.9, organizations should assess their exposure and consider the potential impacts on their operational integrity.
Given the current assessment of the vulnerability and its medium risk classification, organizations should schedule remediation as part of their priority patch cycle. Immediate action is recommended to ensure that unauthorized modifications cannot occur.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects all XWiki versions prior to 13.10.7 and between 14.0.0 and 14.4.2. Specific vulnerable versions include 11.7, 14.4.3, and 14.4.4.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching by upgrading to XWiki versions 13.10.7, 14.4.2, or 14.5RC1 to mitigate this vulnerability. If immediate upgrades are not feasible, consider implementing configuration hardening measures to limit user permissions and restrict access to sensitive functionalities.
Additionally, organizations may consider establishing network controls to monitor and restrict access to administrative functions, ensuring that only authorized personnel can perform critical operations. Monitoring for unusual user behavior can also help detect potential exploitation attempts.
For further guidance, organizations may refer to our comprehensive vulnerability management program design to enhance their security posture.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unauthorized access attempts, particularly those targeting user management functionalities. Behavioral anomalies such as unexpected changes in user statuses or modifications performed by users without administrative rights should trigger alerts.
Additionally, implement network signatures to detect unauthorized access patterns and monitor system changes related to user account management.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2022-41929 highlights the necessity for robust authorization mechanisms within user management systems. Security teams must learn from this vulnerability to prevent similar issues in the future.
This vulnerability represents a critical pattern where lack of proper checks can lead to severe consequences, emphasizing the need for regular security audits and the implementation of the principle of least privilege.
Strategically, organizations should reinforce their security frameworks by integrating thorough authorization checks in their applications. For in-depth insights on securing modern applications, consult our guide on penetration testing methodologies and ensure your development teams are aware of security best practices.
Additionally, organizations can benefit from adopting a continuous security testing approach to proactively identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. For more information on implementing effective security measures, explore our continuous penetration testing services.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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