# CVE-2023-29513: Users can be created even when registration is disabled without validation via the template macro in xwiki-platform

> Attackers can create unauthorized users via a template macro even when registration is disabled, leading to potential privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 5 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fp36-mjw5-fmgx

## What is CVE-2023-29513?

CVE-2023-29513 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Xwiki Xwiki, published on 18 Apr 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

XWiki Platform is a generic wiki platform offering runtime services for applications built on top of it. If guest has view right on any document. It's possible to create a new user using the `distribution/firstadminuser.wiki` in the wrong context. This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 15.0-rc-1 and 14.10.1. There is no known workaround other than upgrading.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-29513?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates` | Maven | From 8.0-rc-1 | 14.10.1 |
| `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates` | Maven | From 8.0-rc-1 | 14.10.1 |

Products: Xwiki Xwiki.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-29513?

Upgrade org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates to 14.10.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2023-29513 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-29513 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Xwiki Xwiki

- [CVE-2025-24893](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24893/): XWiki Platform Eval Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-53836](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-53836/): XWiki Rendering is vulnerable to RCE attacks when processing nested macros (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-55662](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-55662/): XWiki allows remote code execution through the extension sheet (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-55877](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-55877/): XWiki allows remote code execution from account through macro descriptions and XWiki.XWikiSyntaxMacrosList (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-37901](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-37901/): XWiki Platform vulnerable to remote code execution from account via SearchSuggestConfigSheet (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-29513 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-29513 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Xwiki Xwiki, published on 18 Apr 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-29513 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates (Maven): affected from 8.0-rc-1; fixed in 14.10.1
- org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-web-templates (Maven): affected from 8.0-rc-1; fixed in 14.10.1

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29513/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29513/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-29513
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-29513
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-29513

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29513/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.