XWiki Rendering is vulnerable to RCE attacks when processing nested macros

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

9.9 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS

• CVE-2025-53836: 0.64% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 50.61 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Impact The default macro content parser didn't preserve the restricted attribute of the transformation context when executing nested macros. This allows executing macros that are normally forbidden in restricted mode, in particular script macros. The cache and chart macros that are bundled in XWiki use the vulnerable feature. The following XWiki syntax, when used inside a comment in XWiki, demonstrates the privilege escalation from comment right to programming right and thus remote code execution (RCE) that is possible due to this: This vulnerability exists since the restricted attribute has been added to the transformation context in version 4.2. Patches This has been patched in XWiki 13.10.11, 14.4.7 and 14.10. Workarounds To avoid the exploitation of this bug, comments can be disabled for untrusted users until an upgrade to a patched version has been performed. Note that users with edit rights will still be able to add comments via the object editor even if comments have been…

Published by the source

14 Jul 2025, 22:03 UTC

Last modified by the source

15 Jul 2025, 00:35 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 16:39 UTC

1. Revision 1 · created · 26 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-32mf-57h2-64x9

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2025-53836

Advisory: XWiki Rendering is vulnerable to RCE attacks when processing nested macros
IDs: CVE-2025-53836, GHSA-32mf-57h2-64x9
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2025-53836 (revision 1, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 16:39 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.9)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro 14.10, 14.4.7, 13.10.11. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- Maven org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro: affected >= 4.2-milestone-1, < 13.10.11; >= 14.0, < 14.4.7; >= 14.5, < 14.10; fixed in 14.10, 14.4.7, 13.10.11

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- Maven org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro: check the installed version with your package manager.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-32mf-57h2-64x9 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-32mf-57h2-64x9 lists affected ranges: Maven org.xwiki.rendering:xwiki-rendering-transformation-macro >=4.2-milestone-1 =14.0 =14.5 <14.10)

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