CVE-2012-1578 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in MediaWiki 1.17.x before 1.17.3 and 1.18.x before 1.18.2 allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of users with the block permission for requests that (1) block a user via a request to the Block module or (2) unblock a user via a request to the Unblock module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2021
The CVE-2012-1578 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in MediaWiki versions prior to 1.17.3 and 1.18.2. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms within the MediaWiki platform, creating a significant security risk for wikis that rely on user permissions for administrative functions. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the system's trust in authenticated users by crafting malicious requests that can manipulate user access controls without the victim's knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs within the Block and Unblock modules of MediaWiki's administrative interface. When users with the block permission access these modules, the system fails to properly validate the origin of requests, allowing attackers to construct malicious web pages or links that automatically submit block or unblock commands to the victim's browser. This occurs because the MediaWiki application does not implement proper anti-CSRF token validation for these specific administrative functions, making it possible for attackers to leverage the victim's authenticated session to perform unauthorized administrative actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it directly compromises the integrity of user access controls within MediaWiki installations. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to block legitimate users from accessing the wiki, effectively disrupting collaboration and content management processes. Additionally, the ability to unblock users provides attackers with the capability to restore access to compromised accounts or to create persistent access points within the system. This vulnerability particularly affects wikis that host sensitive content or have large user bases where administrative control is critical for maintaining system integrity and user access policies.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential manipulation, as attackers can leverage existing user permissions to perform administrative actions without proper authorization. The attack vector relies on social engineering elements where victims must be tricked into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links while authenticated to the vulnerable MediaWiki system. Organizations running affected MediaWiki versions should immediately implement the available patches to address this vulnerability and consider implementing additional security measures such as CSRF token validation and user session management improvements to prevent similar issues in the future.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of MediaWiki installations to versions 1.17.3 or 1.18.2, which contain the necessary security fixes. Administrators should also implement additional protective measures such as monitoring user session activities, implementing proper input validation for administrative functions, and educating users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites while logged into administrative systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures to identify and remediate authentication-related flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors in the wild.