CVE-2025-53835 XWiki Rendering is vulnerable to XSS attacks through insecure XHTML syntax
Attackers can inject arbitrary JavaScript via XHTML syntax in editable documents, leading to XSS and potential account takeover.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-53835?
CVE-2025-53835 is a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability in Xwiki Xwiki, published on 14 Jul 2025. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
XWiki Rendering is a generic rendering system that converts textual input in a given syntax (wiki syntax, HTML, etc) into another syntax (XHTML, etc). Starting in version 5.4.5 and prior to version 14.10, the XHTML syntax depended on the `xdom+xml/current` syntax which allows the creation of raw blocks that permit the insertion of arbitrary HTML content including JavaScript. This allows XSS attacks for users who can edit a document like their user profile (enabled by default). This has been fixed in version 14.10 by removing the dependency on the `xdom+xml/current` syntax from the XHTML syntax. Note that the `xdom+xml` syntax is still vulnerable to this attack. As it's main purpose is testing and its use is quite difficult, this syntax shouldn't be installed or used on a regular wiki. There are no known workarounds apart from upgrading.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-53835?
2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-syntax-xhtml. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-syntax-xhtml Maven | From 5.4.5 | 14.10 |
org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-syntax-xhtml Maven | From 5.4.5 | 14.10 |
Products include Xwiki Xwiki.
How do I fix CVE-2025-53835?
Upgrade org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-syntax-xhtml to 14.10 or later.
Escape output for the context it lands in and set a strict Content Security Policy. Upgrading the affected component is the real fix. More about Cross-site scripting.
Is CVE-2025-53835 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-53835 exists.
Other vulnerabilities in Xwiki Xwiki
- CVE-2025-24893 XWiki Platform Eval Injection
- CVE-2025-53836 XWiki Rendering is vulnerable to RCE attacks when processing nested macros
- CVE-2024-55662 XWiki allows remote code execution through the extension sheet
- CVE-2024-55877 XWiki allows remote code execution from account through macro descriptions and XWiki.XWikiSyntaxMacrosList
- CVE-2024-37901 XWiki Platform vulnerable to remote code execution from account via SearchSuggestConfigSheet
Sources
Also known as GHSA-w3wh-g4m9-783p.