CVE-2025-32969 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the xwiki-platform, a widely used generic wiki platform. The vulnerability exists in versions starting from 1.8 up to but not including 15.10.16, 16.4.6, and 16.10.1. It allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to escape the Hibernate Query Language (HQL) execution context and perform blind SQL injection attacks against the backend database. This is significant because it bypasses access control settings such as "Prevent unregistered users from viewing pages" and "Prevent unregistered users from editing pages," meaning even unauthenticated users can exploit it. The attacker can execute arbitrary SQL statements, including SELECT queries to extract sensitive data like password hashes, and potentially destructive queries such as UPDATE, INSERT, and DELETE, depending on the database backend. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89), indicating that user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries. The issue has been addressed in patched versions 15.10.16, 16.4.6, and 16.10.1. No known workarounds exist other than upgrading to these fixed versions. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the vulnerability's characteristics make it a high-risk target for attackers due to the lack of authentication requirements and the potential for full database compromise.

For European organizations using vulnerable versions of xwiki-platform, the impact can be severe. The ability for unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands can lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, including user credentials and internal documentation. This compromises confidentiality and potentially integrity if attackers modify or delete data. Availability could also be impacted if destructive queries disrupt database operations. Given that xwiki is often used for internal knowledge management and collaboration, a successful attack could lead to operational disruption, intellectual property theft, and reputational damage. Organizations in sectors with strict data protection regulations, such as finance, healthcare, and government, face heightened risks of regulatory penalties and loss of trust. The fact that the vulnerability bypasses access controls exacerbates the threat, as it negates common security configurations intended to restrict access to sensitive content.

The primary and only effective mitigation is to upgrade xwiki-platform installations to the patched versions 15.10.16, 16.4.6, or 16.10.1 as appropriate. Organizations should prioritize this upgrade, especially if they allow external or unauthenticated access to their wiki instances. Additionally, organizations should conduct an immediate audit of their xwiki-platform versions and restrict network access to the wiki platform to trusted internal networks where possible, reducing exposure to unauthenticated attackers. Implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with SQL injection detection rules can provide temporary protection by blocking suspicious queries targeting the wiki platform. Monitoring database logs for unusual query patterns and setting up alerts for anomalous activity can help detect exploitation attempts early. Finally, organizations should review and tighten database user permissions to limit the potential damage of any successful injection, ensuring the database user used by xwiki has the minimum necessary privileges.