Summary
Remote code execution in xwiki-platform
Workarounds
There's different possible workarounds, all consisting in modifying the XWiki/ResetPassword page.
- the Reset password feature can be entirely disabled by deleting the XWiki/ResetPassword page
- the script in XWiki/ResetPassword can also be modified or removed: an administrator can replace it with a simple email contact to ask an administrator to reset the password.
References
https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-16661
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory:
- Open an issue in Jira
- Email us at Security mailing-list
Impact
It's possible for an unprivileged user to perform a remote code execution by injecting a groovy script in her own profile and by calling the Reset password feature since the feature is performing a save of the user profile with programming rights in the impacted versions of XWiki.
CVE-2022-23616 has a CVSS score of 8.8 (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 (13.1RC1); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
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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The problem has been patched in XWiki 13.1RC1 with a complete refactoring of the Reset password feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2022-23616? CVE-2022-23616 is a high-severity security vulnerability in org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-administration-ui (maven), affecting versions >= 3.1-milestone-1, <= 13.0. It is fixed in 13.1RC1.
- How severe is CVE-2022-23616? CVE-2022-23616 has a CVSS score of 8.8 (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-administration-ui are affected by CVE-2022-23616? org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-administration-ui (maven) versions >= 3.1-milestone-1, <= 13.0 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2022-23616? Yes. CVE-2022-23616 is fixed in 13.1RC1. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2022-23616 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2022-23616 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-2022-23616 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-2022-23616? Upgrade
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-administration-uito 13.1RC1 or later.