CVE-2007-0177 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the AJAX module in MediaWiki before 1.6.9, 1.7 before 1.7.2, 1.8 before 1.8.3, and 1.9 before 1.9.0rc2, when wgUseAjax is enabled, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0177 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within MediaWiki's AJAX module that affected multiple versions of the popular wiki platform. This vulnerability specifically targeted MediaWiki installations where the wgUseAjax configuration parameter was enabled, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw existed across several version branches including 1.6.x before 1.6.9, 1.7.x before 1.7.2, 1.8.x before 1.8.3, and 1.9.x before 1.9.0rc2, indicating a widespread issue that required immediate attention from administrators and developers managing wiki environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the AJAX module's handling of user-supplied data. When wgUseAjax was enabled, the system failed to properly escape or filter user input before rendering it in web pages, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content through unspecified vectors. This weakness falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental web application security issue that enables attackers to manipulate the content delivered to end users. The vulnerability's impact was particularly severe because AJAX functionality typically involves dynamic content updates that could be exploited to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended far beyond simple script injection, as it could enable attackers to compromise entire wiki environments and potentially gain access to sensitive user data or administrative privileges. In wiki platforms where users might have varying permission levels, an attacker could exploit this flaw to escalate privileges or access restricted content. The vulnerability also posed risks to user privacy and system integrity, as malicious scripts could capture keystrokes, modify content, or establish persistent backdoors within the wiki environment. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where the malicious payload is delivered through web-based interfaces rather than traditional email attachments, making it particularly dangerous for collaborative environments where users frequently interact with dynamic content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0177 required immediate action from system administrators, primarily involving upgrading to patched versions of MediaWiki where the vulnerability had been addressed. Organizations running affected versions needed to implement temporary workarounds such as disabling the wgUseAjax parameter if immediate upgrades were not feasible, though this would impact functionality for legitimate users. The fix typically involved implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the AJAX module to ensure that all user-supplied data was properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. Additionally, organizations should have conducted security assessments of their wiki environments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implemented monitoring solutions to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate an active attack. Security teams were advised to review access controls and user permissions to limit the potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that all users received security awareness training about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or content within wiki environments.