CVE-2012-2698 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the outputPage function in includes/SkinTemplate.php in MediaWiki before 1.17.5, 1.18.x before 1.18.4, and 1.19.x before 1.19.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the uselang parameter to index.php/Main_page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The CVE-2012-2698 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the MediaWiki content management system that affected multiple version branches prior to specific security patches. This vulnerability resides in the outputPage function located within the includes/SkinTemplate.php file, which serves as a core component responsible for rendering web pages in the MediaWiki framework. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes the uselang parameter through the index.php/Main_page endpoint, creating an exploitable condition that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into user-facing pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through parameter manipulation where attackers can craft malicious payloads within the uselang parameter value. When the MediaWiki system processes this parameter without proper sanitization or input validation, the injected content becomes part of the rendered HTML output. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can affect any user who accesses the affected page, as the malicious code executes within the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites, making it particularly dangerous for collaborative environments where multiple users interact with the system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on MediaWiki for documentation, knowledge management, or collaborative platforms. The attack surface is broad since MediaWiki installations are deployed across various sectors including government agencies, educational institutions, and corporate environments where sensitive information is managed. The vulnerability's persistence stems from its location within core rendering functions, meaning that any page utilizing the affected functionality could become compromised. The impact is particularly severe in environments where MediaWiki serves as the primary platform for internal communications or where users may inadvertently click on malicious links, potentially leading to widespread compromise of user sessions and data exposure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving web-based exploitation and session manipulation, potentially enabling adversaries to establish persistent access to user accounts and compromise the integrity of the wiki content. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant security patches to versions 1.17.5, 1.18.4, and 1.19.1, along with implementing additional input sanitization measures and monitoring for suspicious parameter usage. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security auditing of all MediaWiki installations to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in related components, as well as establishing proper security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential exploitation attempts.