CVE-2021-32729

A user without PR can reset user authentication failures information

Workarounds

There's no workaround besides upgrading and being careful on which user should have Script right access. Note that any bruteforce attack on the authentication should be visible in the logs since the authentication failures are logged.

References

https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-18276

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:

• Open an issue in Jira
• Email us at the security mailing-list

The script service method used to reset the authentication failures record can be executed by any user with Script rights and does not require Programming rights as it should have.
Note that being able to reset the authentication failure record mean that an attacker with script right might use it to try performing a bruteforce attack since she'd been able to virtually deactivate the mechanism introduced to mitigate those attacks.

The application does not adequately verify the identity of a user, device, or process before granting access. Typical impact: unauthorized access to functions or data reserved for authenticated parties.

CVE-2021-32729 has a CVSS score of 2.0 (Low). The vector is network-reachable, high privileges required, and user interaction required. 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 (12.6.8, 12.10.4); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

Kodem intelligence

Already deployed Kodem?

The problem has been patched in version 12.6.8, 12.10.4 and 13.0.

1. What is CVE-2021-32729? CVE-2021-32729 is a low-severity improper authentication vulnerability in org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-security-authentication-script (maven), affecting versions >= 11.6, < 12.6.8. It is fixed in 12.6.8, 12.10.4. The application does not adequately verify the identity of a user, device, or process before granting access.
2. How severe is CVE-2021-32729? CVE-2021-32729 has a CVSS score of 2.0 (Low). 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.
3. Which versions of org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-security-authentication-script are affected by CVE-2021-32729? org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-security-authentication-script (maven) versions >= 11.6, < 12.6.8 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2021-32729? Yes. CVE-2021-32729 is fixed in 12.6.8, 12.10.4. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2021-32729 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2021-32729 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
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2021-32729 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.
7. How do I fix CVE-2021-32729?
   • Upgrade org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-security-authentication-script to 12.6.8 or later
   • Upgrade org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-security-authentication-script to 12.10.4 or later