CVE-2025-53835 – org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-syntax-xhtml
Package
Manager: maven
Name: org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-syntax-xhtml
Vulnerable Version: >=5.4.5 <14.10
Severity
Level: Critical
CVSS v3.1: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H
EPSS: 0.01243 pctl0.78498
Details
XWiki Rendering is vulnerable to XSS attacks through insecure XHTML syntax ### Impact 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). The attack works by setting the document's syntax to `xdom+xml/current` and then inserting content like ``` <document><p><metadata><metadata><entry><string>syntax</string><org.xwiki.rendering.syntax.Syntax><type><name>XHTML</name><id>xhtml</id><variants class="empty-list"></variants></type><version>5</version></org.xwiki.rendering.syntax.Syntax></entry></metadata></metadata></p><rawtext syntax="html/5.0" content="<script>alert(1);</script>"></rawtext></document> ``` This has been fixed 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. We're currently not aware of any further dependencies on it. ### Patches The fix of removing the dependency has been included in XWiki 14.10. It is not released for earlier versions due to the potential breakages, among others this change makes it necessary to update the [Confluence XHTML syntax](https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/Confluence/Syntax%20XHTML/) as it relies on internals that were changed for the fix. Similar XSS fixes were also not applied to the LTS version 13.10.x due to the potential breakages. ### Workarounds There are no known workarounds apart from upgrading. ### References * https://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XRENDERING-660 * https://github.com/xwiki/xwiki-rendering/commit/a4ca31f99f524b9456c64150d6f375984aa81ea7 ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [Jira XWiki.org](https://jira.xwiki.org/) * Email us at [Security Mailing List](mailto:security@xwiki.org)
Metadata
Created: 2025-07-14T21:40:21Z
Modified: 2025-07-15T00:34:58Z
Source: https://github.com/github/advisory-database/blob/main/advisories/github-reviewed/2025/07/GHSA-w3wh-g4m9-783p/GHSA-w3wh-g4m9-783p.json
CWE IDs: ["CWE-79", "CWE-80"]
Alternative ID: GHSA-w3wh-g4m9-783p
Finding: F425
Auto approve: 1