# CVE-2023-29521: Code injection from account/view through VFS Tree macro in xwiki-platform > Attackers with view rights can execute arbitrary code via VFS Tree macro, requiring upgrade to patched XWiki versions. - **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L`) - **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:** 6 Feb 2025 - **Also known as:** GHSA-p67q-h88v-5jgr ## What is CVE-2023-29521? CVE-2023-29521 is a high-severity code injection 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. Any user with view rights can execute arbitrary Groovy, Python or Velocity code in XWiki leading to full access to the XWiki installation. The root cause is improper escaping of `Macro.VFSTreeMacro`. This page is not installed by default.This vulnerability has been patched in XWiki 15.0-rc-1, 14.10.2, 14.4.8, 13.10.11. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability. Weakness: CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-29521? 6 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui. It affects 1 product. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui` | Maven | From 14.0-rc-1 | 14.4.8 | | `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui` | Maven | From 14.0-rc-1 | 14.4.8 | | `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui` | Maven | From 14.5 | 14.10.2 | | `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui` | Maven | From 14.5 | 14.10.2 | | `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui` | Maven | From 7.4-milestone-2 | 13.10.11 | | `org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui` | Maven | From 7.4-milestone-2 | 13.10.11 | Products: Xwiki Xwiki. ## How do I fix CVE-2023-29521? Upgrade org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui to a fixed version for your release line: 14.4.8, 14.10.2 or 13.10.11. ## Is CVE-2023-29521 being exploited? It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-29521 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-2023-29521 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2023-29521 is a high-severity code injection 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-2023-29521 exists. Affected packages and fixed versions: - org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui (Maven): affected from 14.0-rc-1; fixed in 14.4.8 - org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui (Maven): affected from 14.0-rc-1; fixed in 14.4.8 - org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui (Maven): affected from 14.5; fixed in 14.10.2 - org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui (Maven): affected from 14.5; fixed in 14.10.2 - org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui (Maven): affected from 7.4-milestone-2; fixed in 13.10.11 - org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-vfs-ui (Maven): affected from 7.4-milestone-2; fixed in 13.10.11 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-2023-29521/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29521/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-29521 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-29521 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-29521 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29521/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.