Detect CVE-2026-44179: XWiki Pro Macros RCE via Excerpt-Include Macro in CrowdStrike LogScale
Detects exploitation of CVE-2026-44179, a critical remote code execution vulnerability in com.xwiki.pro:xwiki-pro-macros versions >= 1.13 and < 1.14.5. The vulnerability (CWE-95: Improper Neutralization of Directives in Dynamically Evaluated Code) allows unauthenticated or low-privileged attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server by injecting malicious Groovy/Velocity script expressions into XWiki page titles or content that are subsequently processed by the excerpt-include macro. A public proof-of-concept is available.
MITRE ATT&CK
LogScale Detection Query
#repo=base_activities
| event_type=ProcessRollup2
| ParentBaseFileName in ("java", "java.exe")
| ImageFileName in ("bash", "sh", "dash", "zsh", "cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "whoami", "id", "curl", "wget", "nc", "ncat", "python3", "python", "perl")
| CommandLine != null
| eval risk = "CVE-2026-44179: Shell spawned from Java/XWiki process"
| select timestamp, ComputerName, UserName, ParentBaseFileName, ParentCommandLine, ImageFileName, CommandLine, risk
| sort timestamp desc
| limit 500
// Alternative network-based pivot:
// #repo=base_activities event_type=NetworkConnectIP4
// | RemotePort in [4444, 1337, 9001, 8888]
// | LocalAddressIP4 != "127.0.0.1"
// | LocalPort > 1024
// | [search process_name in ("java", "java.exe")]
// | select timestamp, ComputerName, UserName, LocalAddressIP4, RemoteAddressIP4, RemotePortCrowdStrike Falcon Logscale CQL query to identify shell processes spawned from Java (XWiki JVM) and suspicious outbound network connections indicative of CVE-2026-44179 exploitation through malicious excerpt-include macro payloads.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- XWiki export or import scripts that call external command-line utilities
- Java management extensions (JMX) tools spawning diagnostic processes on the host
- CI/CD pipelines running integration tests against XWiki where commands are expected
- Legitimate administrator use of XWiki Groovy scripting console for approved operations
Other platforms for CVE-2026-44179
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1XWiki Excerpt-Include SSTI via Groovy Script Block
Expected signal: Process creation event showing java (or catalina) as parent process and a subprocess running 'id' or 'sh -c id'. Network logs may show the HTTP response containing the output of the id command.
- Test 2XWiki RCE Reverse Shell via Excerpt-Include Macro
Expected signal: Outbound TCP connection from the XWiki host JVM process to ATTACKER_IP:4444. Process tree shows java -> bash with interactive shell flags. Network flow records an established connection on port 4444.
- Test 3XWiki File Write via RCE to Establish Persistence
Expected signal: File creation event for /tmp/xwiki_rce_proof.txt with the Java/Tomcat process as the creator. Audit log (auditd or Sysmon for Linux) records a file open/write syscall from the java process.
Unlock Pro Content
Get the full detection package for CVE-2026-44179 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.