Velocity execution without script right through VelocityCode and VelocityWiki property
Impact
It is possible in XWiki to execute Velocity code without having script right by creating an XClass with a property of type "TextArea" and content type "VelocityCode" or "VelocityWiki". For the former, the syntax of the document needs to be set the xwiki/1.0 (this syntax doesn't need to be installed). In both cases, when adding the property to an object, the Velocity code is executed regardless of the rights of the author of the property (edit right is still required, though). In both cases, the code is executed with the correct context author so no privileged APIs can be accessed. However, Velocity still grants access to otherwise inaccessible data and APIs that could allow further privilege escalation.
At least for "VelocityCode", this behavior is most likely very old but only since XWiki 7.2, script right is a separate right, before that version all users were allowed to execute Velocity and thus this was expected and not a security issue.
Patches
This has been patched in XWiki 14.10.10 and 15.4 RC1.
Workarounds
There are no known workarounds.
References
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore | >= 7.2, < 14.10.10, >= 15.0-rc-1, < 15.4-rc-1 | 14.10.10, 15.4-rc-1 |
References
- https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/security/advisories/GHSA-m5m2-h6h9-p2c8
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41046
- https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform/commit/edc52579eeaab1b4514785c134044671a1ecd839
- https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-platform
- https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20847
- https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-20848
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-862- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore- Disclosed
- 04.09.2023
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 13:20
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-m5m2-h6h9-p2c8 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.xwiki.platform:xwiki-platform-oldcore
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 46
- First → latest
- 09.2020 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 12
- High 17
- Medium 15
- Low 2
Disclosures per year
- 2020: 2
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 12
- 2023: 15
- 2024: 7
- 2025: 6
- 2026: 3
-
Velocity execution without script right through VelocityCode and VelocityWiki property this entry
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