Changes for page What an XWiki Security Review Should Actually Include

Last modified by Alex Cotiuga on 2026/07/13 06:44

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From 1.6 to 1.7

From version 1.7

edited by Alex Cotiuga
on 2026/05/26 09:14

Change comment: There is no comment for this version

To version 4.5

edited by Alex Cotiuga
on 2026/07/13 06:44

Change comment: There is no comment for this version

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- xwiki-security-review.png

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@@ -28,10 +28,14 @@
            <h4>In this guide</h4>
            <ul>
              <li><a href="#why-it-matters">Why it matters</a></li>
++            <li><a href="#quick-self-check">Quick self-check</a></li>
              <li><a href="#what-to-review">What to review</a></li>
++            <li><a href="#common-findings">Common findings</a></li>
              <li><a href="#security-checklist">Security checklist</a></li>
              <li><a href="#review-output">What the review should produce</a></li>
++            <li><a href="#readiness-checklist">What to prepare</a></li>
              <li><a href="#when-to-review">When to run a review</a></li>
++            <li><a href="#security-review-faq">FAQ</a></li>
            </ul>
          </aside>
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@
            </p>
            <p>
++            An XWiki security review is a practical audit of the platform configuration, access model,
++            authentication setup, installed extensions, custom code, infrastructure and recovery procedures.
++          </p>
++
++          <p>
              Security risks are often hidden in less visible areas: outdated versions, inherited permissions,
              forgotten administrator accounts, overly powerful rights, old extensions, undocumented scripts,
              weak fallback access or backup assumptions that were never tested.
@@ -51,6 +51,20 @@
            <div class="resource-note">
              <p>
++              <strong>In practice:</strong> an XWiki security review should evaluate the XWiki version,
++              access rights, authentication setup, installed extensions, custom code, infrastructure,
++              backups, restore expectations and the operational practices used to maintain the instance.
++            </p>
++          </div>
++
++          <p>
++            The value of the review is not only to find technical issues. It is to understand how the instance is actually
++            used, where risk has accumulated over time, and what should be cleaned up before the next upgrade, migration,
++            authentication change or business-critical rollout.
++          </p>
++
++          <div class="resource-note">
++            <p>
                <strong>The main point:</strong> an XWiki security review should not only check whether the application
                is online. It should evaluate the platform, the access model and the operational practices around it.
              </p>
@@ -70,10 +70,34 @@
            </p>
            <p>
--            A security review helps identify risks before they become incidents, upgrade blockers or maintenance
--            surprises. It also gives administrators a clearer view of the current state of the instance.
++            In real XWiki instances, security problems are rarely caused by a single visible mistake. They often come from
++            years of small configuration decisions: one temporary group, one local right exception, one old extension, one
++            undocumented script, one backup procedure that nobody has tested recently.
            </p>
++          <h2 id="quick-self-check">Quick self-check: does your XWiki need a security review?</h2>
++
++          <p>
++            Your XWiki instance may need a security review if one or more of these situations sound familiar.
++          </p>
++
++          <ul class="resource-checklist">
++            <li>You are not sure who currently has admin, script or programming rights.</li>
++            <li>The instance has not been upgraded regularly or the upgrade path is unclear.</li>
++            <li>SSO, LDAP, OIDC or SAML was configured years ago and not reviewed recently.</li>
++            <li>Custom scripts, templates, macros or extensions exist but are not clearly documented.</li>
++            <li>Groups and page-level rights have grown organically over several years.</li>
++            <li>Backups exist, but the restore process has not been tested or documented.</li>
++            <li>A new team inherited the instance and has to guess how rights, extensions or customizations were configured.</li>
++          </ul>
++
++          <div class="resource-note">
++            <p>
++              <strong>Practical signal:</strong> if the instance works but nobody can clearly explain the access model,
++              the customizations and the recovery process, the risk is not only technical. It is operational.
++            </p>
++          </div>
++
            <h2 id="what-to-review">What should be reviewed</h2>
            <h3>1. Version and upgrade status</h3>
@@ -88,6 +88,11 @@
              A repeatable upgrade process is part of the security posture of a long-running XWiki instance.
            </p>
++          <p>
++            For more details on upgrade planning, see
++            <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.why-upgrade-xwiki')">why regular XWiki upgrades matter</a>.
++          </p>
++
            <h3>2. Access rights and permission model</h3>
            <p>
              XWiki has a powerful access-rights system, but this flexibility needs a clear governance model. A review
@@ -101,6 +101,13 @@
              of small exceptions that nobody reviewed later.
            </p>
++          <p>
++            For a deeper look at this topic, see
++            <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-access-rights-governance')">why XWiki access rights need a clear governance model</a>.
++            For a practical starting point, see
++            <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-access-rights-review')">how to start an XWiki access-rights review</a>.
++          </p>
++
            <h3>3. Authentication and identity management</h3>
            <p>
              Authentication should be reviewed beyond the simple question of whether users can log in. LDAP, Active
@@ -125,6 +125,11 @@
              discovered accidentally during an incident or a production upgrade.
            </p>
++          <p>
++            Customizations should also be reviewed from a maintenance perspective. See
++            <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-custom-development')">how to keep XWiki custom development maintainable across upgrades</a>.
++          </p>
++
            <h3>5. Configuration, infrastructure and operations</h3>
            <p>
              The review should also cover the environment around XWiki: HTTPS and reverse proxy configuration, database
@@ -137,9 +137,56 @@
              knows what is included, how long recovery would take or whether the restore process has ever been tested.
            </p>
--          <h2 id="security-checklist">Practical XWiki security review checklist</h2>
++          <div class="resource-inline-cta">
++            <p>
++              <strong>Need a clearer view of your XWiki security posture?</strong>
++              A structured review can check versions, access rights, authentication,
++              extensions, custom code, infrastructure, backups and operational practices.
++            </p>
++            <a class="btn btn-default" href="$xwiki.getURL('contact.WebHome')">Request a security review</a>
++            <a class="btn btn-secondary" href="$xwiki.getURL('pricing.WebHome')#common-packages">View review pricing</a>
++          </div>
++          <h2 id="common-findings">Common findings in real XWiki security reviews</h2>
++
++          <p>
++            In real XWiki instances, security risks are often not caused by one major mistake. They usually come from
++            configuration decisions that were reasonable at the time but were never reviewed together later.
++          </p>
++
            <ul class="resource-checklist">
++            <li>Old administrator accounts that are still active.</li>
++            <li>Script or programming rights granted to users who no longer maintain the platform.</li>
++            <li>Groups created for old projects that still grant access.</li>
++            <li>Page-level rights added as exceptions and never documented.</li>
++            <li>Custom Velocity or Groovy code that is business-critical but undocumented.</li>
++            <li>Extensions installed years ago without a clear owner or upgrade validation process.</li>
++            <li>SSO configured correctly for login, but not reviewed together with XWiki groups.</li>
++            <li>Backup jobs scheduled automatically, but restore expectations never tested.</li>
++            <li>Production changes performed without a staging or rollback habit.</li>
++          </ul>
++
++          <h2 id="what-this-is-not">What this review is not</h2>
++
++          <p>
++            A security review is not a one-click scan and it is not limited to checking the installed XWiki version.
++            Automated checks can help, but they cannot fully explain why a group has access, whether a custom script is still
++            needed, or whether a restore procedure would actually work during an incident.
++          </p>
++
++          <p>
++            The review should combine technical checks with context: how the wiki is used, which areas are sensitive, which
++            users administer it, what customizations matter and what the organization expects during an incident or upgrade.
++          </p>
++
++          <h2 id="security-checklist">XWiki security review checklist</h2>
++
++          <p>
++            A practical XWiki security review should cover both application-level and operational risks.
++            The following checklist can be used as a starting point when reviewing a production instance.
++          </p>
++
++          <ul class="resource-checklist">
              <li>Check the current XWiki version, target version and upgrade path.</li>
              <li>Review installed extensions, outdated components and unsupported customizations.</li>
              <li>Audit administrator, script and programming rights.</li>
@@ -155,8 +155,8 @@
            <h2 id="review-output">What the review should produce</h2>
            <p>
--            A useful security review should not only produce a list of detected problems. It should produce a practical action
--            plan. Each finding should explain the risk, the affected area, the recommended action and the priority.
++            A useful security review should not only produce a list of detected problems. It should produce a practical
++            action plan. Each finding should explain the risk, the affected area, the recommended action and the priority.
            </p>
            <p>
@@ -165,6 +165,41 @@
              reviewing extensions or preparing the next upgrade.
            </p>
++          <div class="resource-note">
++            <p>
++              <strong>A useful review should separate findings by priority:</strong> immediate risks,
++              planned remediation, maintenance improvements and documentation gaps. This makes the result
++              easier to act on instead of producing a generic list of observations.
++            </p>
++          </div>
++
++          <h3>Example review finding</h3>
++
++          <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
++            <thead>
++              <tr>
++                <th>Finding</th>
++                <th>Risk</th>
++                <th>Recommended action</th>
++                <th>Priority</th>
++              </tr>
++            </thead>
++            <tbody>
++              <tr>
++                <td>Several users have script rights but are no longer responsible for XWiki administration.</td>
++                <td>Powerful rights remain active without clear ownership.</td>
++                <td>Confirm the current need, remove obsolete assignments and document approved technical users.</td>
++                <td>High</td>
++              </tr>
++              <tr>
++                <td>Backups are scheduled, but the restore process has not been tested recently.</td>
++                <td>Recovery expectations may be incorrect during an incident.</td>
++                <td>Document backup coverage and perform a restore validation on a test environment.</td>
++                <td>Medium</td>
++              </tr>
++            </tbody>
++          </table>
++
            <p>
              The best outcome is a clearer, safer and more maintainable XWiki instance: one where administrators
              understand the access model, critical features are documented and future upgrades can be planned with
@@ -171,6 +171,24 @@
              fewer surprises.
            </p>
++          <h2 id="readiness-checklist">XWiki security review readiness checklist</h2>
++
++          <p>
++            Before starting a security review, prepare the following information. This makes the review faster and helps
++            identify risks more clearly.
++          </p>
++
++          <ul class="resource-checklist">
++            <li>Current XWiki version and target upgrade version, if an upgrade is planned.</li>
++            <li>List of installed extensions and known custom applications.</li>
++            <li>Authentication method: local users, LDAP, OIDC, SAML, SSO or MFA.</li>
++            <li>Known restricted spaces, confidential areas or public-facing pages.</li>
++            <li>List of technical administrators and users with powerful rights.</li>
++            <li>Known custom scripts, templates, macros, UI extensions or Java components.</li>
++            <li>Backup location, frequency and last restore test, if known.</li>
++            <li>Staging or test environment availability.</li>
++          </ul>
++
            <h2 id="when-to-review">When should an XWiki security review be done?</h2>
            <p>
@@ -184,25 +184,88 @@
              permissions, extensions, customizations and recovery procedures were configured years earlier.
            </p>
--          <div class="resource-note">
++          <div class="resource-note related-resources">
++            <p><strong>Security review series:</strong></p>
++            <ul>
++              <li>
++                <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-security-review')">What an XWiki security review should actually include</a>
++              </li>
++              <li>
++                <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-access-rights-governance')">Why XWiki access rights need a clear governance model</a>
++              </li>
++              <li>
++                <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-access-rights-review')">How to start an XWiki access-rights review</a>
++              </li>
++            </ul>
              <p>
--              Related resources:
--              <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.why-upgrade-xwiki')">why regular XWiki upgrades matter</a>
--              and
--              <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-custom-development')">how to keep XWiki custom development maintainable across upgrades</a>.
++              Future topics will cover authentication and access control, script and programming rights,
++              backup validation, extension review and operational practices.
              </p>
            </div>
--          <div class="resource-cta">
--            <h3>Need an XWiki security review?</h3>
++          <h2 id="security-review-faq">XWiki security review FAQ</h2>
++
++          <details class="resource-faq-item" open>
++            <summary>What should an XWiki security review include?</summary>
              <p>
--              If your XWiki instance has grown over time, contains sensitive content, uses custom code or depends on
--              SSO, extensions and business-critical workflows, a structured review can help identify risks and define
--              the safest next steps.
++              An XWiki security review should include the installed XWiki version, upgrade path,
++              access rights, groups, authentication setup, installed extensions, custom code,
++              infrastructure, backups, restore expectations and operational procedures.
              </p>
--            <a class="btn btn-primary" href="$xwiki.getURL('contact.WebHome')">Request a security review</a>
--          </div>
++          </details>
++          <details class="resource-faq-item">
++            <summary>Is an updated XWiki instance automatically secure?</summary>
++            <p>
++              No. Updating XWiki is important, but security also depends on permissions,
++              authentication, extensions, custom code, infrastructure configuration, backups
++              and how the instance is maintained.
++            </p>
++          </details>
++
++          <details class="resource-faq-item">
++            <summary>Does SSO solve XWiki access control?</summary>
++            <p>
++              No. SSO helps authenticate users, but access control still depends on XWiki groups,
++              inherited permissions, page-level rights and administrative privileges.
++            </p>
++          </details>
++
++          <details class="resource-faq-item">
++            <summary>Why should custom code be reviewed?</summary>
++            <p>
++              Custom scripts, templates, macros, UI extensions and Java components can affect
++              permissions, workflows, rendering, integrations and upgrade behavior. They should
++              be identified, documented and tested.
++            </p>
++          </details>
++
++          <details class="resource-faq-item">
++            <summary>When should an XWiki security review be done?</summary>
++            <p>
++              A review is useful before a major upgrade, after years of organic growth, after
++              authentication changes, before exposing the wiki more broadly, or when the instance
++              becomes business-critical.
++            </p>
++          </details>
++
++          <div class="resource-note related-resources">
++            <p><strong>Related resources:</strong></p>
++            <ul>
++              <li>
++                <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-access-rights-governance')">Why XWiki access rights need a clear governance model</a>
++              </li>
++              <li>
++                <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-access-rights-review')">How to start an XWiki access-rights review</a>
++              </li>
++              <li>
++                <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.why-upgrade-xwiki')">Why regular XWiki upgrades matter</a>
++              </li>
++              <li>
++                <a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-custom-development')">How to keep XWiki custom development maintainable across upgrades</a>
++              </li>
++            </ul>
++          </div>
          </article>
        </div>
@@ -209,5 +209,68 @@
      </div>
    </section>
++  <section class="cta-section" aria-labelledby="xwiki-security-review-cta-title">
++    <div class="container">
++      <div class="cta-panel">
++        <h2 id="xwiki-security-review-cta-title">Need an XWiki security review?</h2>
++        <p>
++          If your XWiki instance has grown over time, contains sensitive content, uses custom code or depends on
++          SSO, extensions and business-critical workflows, a structured review can help identify risks and define
++          the safest next steps.
++        </p>
++        <a class="btn btn-primary" href="$xwiki.getURL('contact.WebHome')">Request a security review</a>
++      </div>
++    </div>
++  </section>
++
++  <script type="application/ld+json">
++  {
++    "@context": "https://schema.org",
++    "@type": "FAQPage",
++    "mainEntity": [
++      {
++        "@type": "Question",
++        "name": "What should an XWiki security review include?",
++        "acceptedAnswer": {
++          "@type": "Answer",
++          "text": "An XWiki security review should include the installed XWiki version, upgrade path, access rights, groups, authentication setup, installed extensions, custom code, infrastructure, backups, restore expectations and operational procedures."
++        }
++      },
++      {
++        "@type": "Question",
++        "name": "Is an updated XWiki instance automatically secure?",
++        "acceptedAnswer": {
++          "@type": "Answer",
++          "text": "No. Updating XWiki is important, but security also depends on permissions, authentication, extensions, custom code, infrastructure configuration, backups and how the instance is maintained."
++        }
++      },
++      {
++        "@type": "Question",
++        "name": "Does SSO solve XWiki access control?",
++        "acceptedAnswer": {
++          "@type": "Answer",
++          "text": "No. SSO helps authenticate users, but access control still depends on XWiki groups, inherited permissions, page-level rights and administrative privileges."
++        }
++      },
++      {
++        "@type": "Question",
++        "name": "Why should custom code be reviewed in XWiki?",
++        "acceptedAnswer": {
++          "@type": "Answer",
++          "text": "Custom scripts, templates, macros, UI extensions and Java components can affect permissions, workflows, rendering, integrations and upgrade behavior. They should be identified, documented and tested."
++        }
++      },
++      {
++        "@type": "Question",
++        "name": "When should an XWiki security review be done?",
++        "acceptedAnswer": {
++          "@type": "Answer",
++          "text": "A review is useful before a major upgrade, after years of organic growth, after authentication changes, before exposing the wiki more broadly, or when the instance becomes business-critical."
++        }
++      }
++    ]
++  }
++  </script>
++
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