CVE-2007-1054 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the AJAX features in index.php in MediaWiki 1.6.x through 1.9.2, when $wgUseAjax is enabled, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a UTF-7 encoded value of the rs parameter, which is processed by Internet Explorer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1054 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within MediaWiki's AJAX implementation that affects versions 1.6.x through 1.9.2. This security weakness specifically targets the index.php file where AJAX functionality is enabled through the $wgUseAjax configuration parameter. The flaw occurs when the rs parameter, which is processed by Internet Explorer, contains UTF-7 encoded values that are not properly sanitized or validated by the application's input handling mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the specific behavior of Internet Explorer's handling of UTF-7 encoded content, which differs significantly from other web browsers. When a malicious user submits a UTF-7 encoded value through the rs parameter, the MediaWiki application fails to properly sanitize this input before rendering it within the web page context. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled script code can be executed within the victim's browser session, effectively bypassing the browser's security model that typically prevents such cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the browser-specific parsing behavior of Internet Explorer to execute malicious code that would otherwise be blocked by modern security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. Since MediaWiki is widely used for collaborative content management and wikis, the potential for exploitation is significant, especially in environments where users may be logged into sensitive systems. The vulnerability affects the core AJAX functionality that enables real-time updates and dynamic content loading, making it particularly impactful for user interactions and collaborative editing features that depend on these capabilities.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how browser-specific implementation details can create unexpected security gaps in otherwise well-designed systems. The attack vector follows the typical progression outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for web application exploitation, where initial access is gained through input manipulation followed by code execution within the victim's browser context. Organizations using affected MediaWiki versions should immediately implement patches or workarounds that properly sanitize all input parameters, particularly those that are processed through AJAX interfaces. The recommended mitigation strategies include disabling AJAX features when not required, implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization, and ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly encoded before being rendered in web contexts to prevent the execution of malicious scripts through the UTF-7 encoding bypass mechanism.