What is CVE-2021-21380?

CVE-2021-21380 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api (maven), affecting versions < 12.9. It is fixed in 12.9. Untrusted input alters a database query, allowing the attacker to read or modify data the query was not intended to access.

How severe is CVE-2021-21380?

CVE-2021-21380 has a CVSS score of 7.7 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Which versions of org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api are affected by CVE-2021-21380?

org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api (maven) versions < 12.9 is affected.

Is there a fix for CVE-2021-21380?

Yes. CVE-2021-21380 is fixed in 12.9. Upgrade to this version or later.

Is CVE-2021-21380 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2021-21380 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

What actually determines whether CVE-2021-21380 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

How do I fix CVE-2021-21380?

Upgrade org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api to 12.9 or later.

CVE-2021-21380

Q: How severe is CVE-2021-21380?

CVE-2021-21380 has a CVSS score of 7.7 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.

Q: Which versions of org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api are affected by CVE-2021-21380?

org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api (maven) versions < 12.9 is affected.

Q: Is there a fix for CVE-2021-21380?

Yes. CVE-2021-21380 is fixed in 12.9. Upgrade to this version or later.

Q: Is CVE-2021-21380 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2021-21380 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk.

Q: What actually determines whether CVE-2021-21380 is exploitable, and how bad it is?

Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2021-21380?

Upgrade org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api to 12.9 or later.

Summary

Rating Script Service expose XWiki to SQL injection

Workarounds

The only workaround besides upgrading XWiki would be to uninstall the Ratings API in XWiki from the Extension Manager.

References

https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-17662

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

Open an issue in Jira XWiki
Email us at our security mailing list

Impact

This issue impacts only XWiki with the Ratings API installed.
The Rating Script Service expose an API to perform SQL requests without escaping the from and where search arguments.
This might lead to an SQL script injection quite easily for any user having Script rights on XWiki.

Untrusted input alters a database query, allowing the attacker to read or modify data the query was not intended to access. Typical impact: data disclosure or modification.

CVE-2021-21380 has a CVSS score of 7.7 (High). The vector is network-reachable, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (12.9); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Affected versions

org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api (< 12.9)

Security releases

org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api → 12.9 (maven)

Kodem intelligence

Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.

Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.

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Remediation advice

The problem has been patched in XWiki 12.9RC1.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-21380? CVE-2021-21380 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api (maven), affecting versions < 12.9. It is fixed in 12.9. Untrusted input alters a database query, allowing the attacker to read or modify data the query was not intended to access.
How severe is CVE-2021-21380? CVE-2021-21380 has a CVSS score of 7.7 (High). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
Which versions of org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api are affected by CVE-2021-21380? org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api (maven) versions < 12.9 is affected.
Is there a fix for CVE-2021-21380? Yes. CVE-2021-21380 is fixed in 12.9. Upgrade to this version or later.
Is CVE-2021-21380 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2021-21380 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
What actually determines whether CVE-2021-21380 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
How do I fix CVE-2021-21380? Upgrade org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-ratings-api to 12.9 or later.