CVE-2025-55729 – CVE-2025-55729 is a critical remote code execut... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2025-55729?

CVE-2025-55729 has a CVSS score of 10.0 (CRITICAL). CVE-2025-55729 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in XWiki Remote Macros that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by exploiting improper escaping in the ConfluenceLayoutSection macro. Any user with page editing permissions can exploit this vulnerability to gain full system control. This affects XWiki installations using the vulnerable macro versions.

📋 TL;DR

CVE-2025-55729 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in XWiki Remote Macros that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by exploiting improper escaping in the ConfluenceLayoutSection macro. Any user with page editing permissions can exploit this vulnerability to gain full system control. This affects XWiki installations using the vulnerable macro versions.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

XWiki Remote Macros (Confluence Bridges module)

Versions: 1.0 through 1.26.4

Operating Systems: All platforms running XWiki

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires the ConfluenceLayoutSection macro to be installed and accessible. Any user with page edit permissions can trigger the vulnerability.

⚠️ Manual Verification Required

This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.

Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).

🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.

Recommended Actions:

Review the CVE details at NVD
Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete system compromise allowing attacker to execute arbitrary commands, access sensitive data, install malware, and pivot to other systems.

🟠

Likely Case

Attacker gains shell access on the XWiki server, potentially accessing database credentials, user data, and modifying wiki content.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact if proper network segmentation and least privilege access controls are implemented, though RCE still poses significant risk.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH - If XWiki instance is internet-accessible, attackers can exploit authenticated users or compromised accounts to gain server access.

🏢 Internal Only: HIGH - Even internally, any user with edit permissions can exploit this to gain elevated privileges and compromise the server.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: LOW

Exploitation requires authenticated user with page edit permissions. The vulnerability is in XWiki syntax injection leading to RCE, making exploitation straightforward for attackers with basic XWiki knowledge.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: 1.26.5

Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/xwikisas/xwiki-pro-macros/security/advisories/GHSA-22xj-jpjg-gpgw

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update XWiki Remote Macros to version 1.26.5 or later. 2. Restart XWiki application server. 3. Verify the ConfluenceLayoutSection macro is updated in the extension manager.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable ConfluenceLayoutSection Macro

all

Temporarily disable the vulnerable macro to prevent exploitation while planning upgrade.

Navigate to XWiki Administration > Extension Manager > Installed Extensions > Find 'ConfluenceLayoutSection' macro > Disable

Restrict Page Editing Permmissions

all

Temporarily restrict page editing to only essential administrators.

Navigate to XWiki Administration > Rights > Adjust page editing permissions to administrators only

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict network segmentation to isolate XWiki server from critical systems
Enable detailed auditing and monitoring of all page edits and macro usage

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check XWiki Administration > Extension Manager for XWiki Remote Macros version. If version is between 1.0 and 1.26.4, system is vulnerable.

Check Version:

Check XWiki web interface: Administration > Extension Manager > Search for 'xwiki-pro-macros-confluence-bridges'

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify XWiki Remote Macros version is 1.26.5 or higher in Extension Manager and test that ConfluenceLayoutSection macro functions without allowing XWiki syntax injection.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual page edit patterns
ConfluenceLayoutSection macro usage with suspicious parameters
XWiki syntax errors containing execution attempts

Network Indicators:

Unusual outbound connections from XWiki server
Traffic patterns suggesting command and control activity

SIEM Query:

source="xwiki.log" AND ("ConfluenceLayoutSection" OR "ac:type") AND ("script" OR "groovy" OR "velocity" OR "exec")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2025-55729

CVSS v3 Score: 10.0 (CRITICAL)

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

CWE: CWE-116

EPSS Score: 0.34% exploit probability (56.2th percentile)

Published: September 9, 2025

Last Updated: September 11, 2025

🔗 References

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