CVE-2005-3167 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Incomplete blacklist vulnerability in MediaWiki before 1.4.11 does not properly remove certain CSS inputs (HTML inline style attributes) that are processed as active content by Internet Explorer, which allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3167 represents a critical security flaw in MediaWiki versions prior to 1.4.11 that stems from an incomplete blacklist implementation for CSS input validation. This weakness specifically affects how the wiki software processes HTML inline style attributes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject harmful code that can be executed by web browsers, particularly Internet Explorer which was known to process certain CSS properties as active content. The vulnerability operates within the broader context of cross-site scripting attacks where attackers exploit the trust relationship between a web application and its users to execute unauthorized scripts in the victim's browser environment.
The technical flaw manifests in MediaWiki's insufficient filtering mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize CSS inputs containing potentially dangerous properties such as expression(), behavior(), or other CSS functions that Internet Explorer interprets as executable code. When users create or edit pages with maliciously crafted CSS attributes, the incomplete blacklist does not adequately strip or escape these dangerous elements, allowing them to persist in the rendered HTML output. This vulnerability specifically targets the way Internet Explorer handles CSS properties that can trigger script execution, making it particularly dangerous in environments where IE was the primary browser. The flaw aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to severe security consequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to establish persistent malicious presence within wiki environments. Remote attackers can craft malicious CSS content that executes when users view affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects collaborative environments where multiple users contribute content, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on MediaWiki for internal documentation or knowledge sharing platforms. Attackers can leverage this weakness to compromise user sessions, inject malicious advertisements, or even establish backdoors within the wiki infrastructure, especially when users with administrative privileges view compromised pages.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3167 require immediate implementation of the official MediaWiki security patch version 1.4.11 or later, which addresses the incomplete blacklist by implementing more comprehensive CSS sanitization. Organizations should also consider additional defensive measures including content security policies that restrict inline styles, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers of the application, and conducting regular security audits of user-contributed content. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for command and script injection, emphasizing the need for robust input sanitization and output encoding to prevent malicious code execution. Security teams should also implement monitoring systems to detect unusual content patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities, and establish regular patch management procedures to ensure timely adoption of security updates across all deployed systems.