Overview
In this blog post, we delve into CVE-2025-55727, a critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability found in XWiki Remote Macros. This vulnerability affects versions 1.0 to 1.26.4 and has severe implications for any user who can edit any page or access the CKEditor converter in XWiki. It’s a matter of grave concern as it holds the potential for system compromise or data leakage, thereby risking the security of sensitive information stored in the system.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-55727
Severity: Critical (10.0)
Attack Vector: Remote
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
XWiki Remote Macros | 1.0 to 1.26.4
How the Exploit Works
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the lack of proper escaping in the width parameter in the column macro. This allows malicious users to inject XWiki syntax, enabling remote code execution. If the macro is installed by a user with programming rights, the exploit can remotely execute code. At a minimum, even without programming rights, it allows executing Velocity code as the wiki admin, leading to potential system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
POST /xwiki/bin/view/XWiki/ExamplePage HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
form_token=xyz&editor=wiki&content={{velocity}}#set($x="exploit_code")#endIn this example, the malicious user injects a Velocity code snippet into the page content, which is subsequently executed as the wiki admin.
Mitigation and Patching
To mitigate this vulnerability, users should update to version 1.26.5 or later, which includes a patch for the issue. As a temporary mitigation, users can also employ a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to monitor and block malicious requests. However, these solutions are not full proof and updating to the patched version is strongly recommended.
Conclusion
The CVE-2025-55727 vulnerability in XWiki Remote Macros underscores the critical importance of input validation and the potential dangers of code injection. Regular patching and system updates, along with the use of security tools like WAFs and IDSs, are essential to maintaining the security of your systems.
