CVE-2011-1580 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
The transwiki import functionality in MediaWiki before 1.16.3 does not properly check privileges, which allows remote authenticated users to perform imports from any wgImportSources wiki via a crafted POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1580 resides within the MediaWiki platform's transwiki import feature, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.16.3. This flaw represents a critical privilege escalation issue that undermines the security model of the wiki system by allowing authenticated users to bypass intended access controls. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions during the import process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the system's behavior through carefully crafted HTTP POST requests. The affected functionality enables users to import content from external wiki sources, a feature designed to facilitate collaboration and content sharing across different MediaWiki installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in the privilege checking mechanism within MediaWiki's import subsystem. When users submit import requests through the transwiki functionality, the system should verify that the requesting user possesses appropriate permissions to execute such operations and that the target import source is authorized for the operation. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the import source parameters through POST requests, effectively bypassing these authorization checks. This weakness enables unauthorized users to specify arbitrary wiki sources from which content can be imported, potentially including malicious or sensitive data from external systems. The flaw particularly affects the wgImportSources configuration parameter, which defines acceptable import sources, but fails to properly validate user input against these restrictions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to execute a range of malicious activities within the compromised MediaWiki environment. An authenticated attacker could potentially import content from unauthorized sources, including malware payloads, sensitive information from other wikis, or content designed to exploit other system vulnerabilities. The ability to import from any configured source creates opportunities for data exfiltration, content poisoning, and potential lateral movement within networks where MediaWiki instances are deployed. This vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where multiple users have import privileges, as it allows a single compromised account to be leveraged for broader system compromise. The impact is further amplified in enterprise environments where MediaWiki serves as a central knowledge management platform.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1580 require immediate implementation of the official security patch released by the MediaWiki development team, which addresses the privilege checking mechanism in the transwiki import functionality. Organizations should also implement additional network-level controls to restrict access to import endpoints and monitor for suspicious import activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for malicious file execution. Administrators should conduct thorough review of user permissions and import source configurations, ensuring that only trusted users have access to import functionality and that import sources are properly restricted. Regular security auditing of wiki configurations and user access controls remains essential for preventing exploitation of similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the future.