CVE-2013-6472 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
MediaWiki before 1.19.10, 1.2x before 1.21.4, and 1.22.x before 1.22.1 allows remote attackers to obtain information about deleted page via the (1) log API, (2) enhanced RecentChanges, and (3) user watchlists.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2021
MediaWiki version 1.19.10, 1.21.4, and 1.22.1 introduced a significant information disclosure vulnerability that affected multiple core functionality areas of the wiki platform. This vulnerability allowed remote attackers to access information about deleted pages through three distinct API endpoints and user interface components. The flaw stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the system's logging and tracking infrastructure, where deleted content remains accessible through specific API calls and user-facing features despite having been removed from the main content repository. The vulnerability specifically impacts the log API functionality, enhanced RecentChanges display, and user watchlist mechanisms, creating multiple attack vectors for information extraction. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-200, Information Exposure, and represents a critical security flaw in data protection mechanisms. The attack surface extends beyond simple content retrieval to include user privacy and system integrity concerns, as it enables unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information that was intended to be permanently removed from the system. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the system's information lifecycle management, where the deletion process does not properly sanitize or restrict access to related metadata and tracking information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way MediaWiki handles page deletion operations and maintains associated records within its database and API endpoints. When pages are deleted, the system maintains references in various tracking systems including change logs, user watchlists, and recent changes feeds, but fails to properly enforce access controls on these secondary data structures. Attackers can leverage the log API to query deletion events and retrieve information about pages that have been removed from public view, while the enhanced RecentChanges feature continues to display deleted page references in user feeds. The user watchlist functionality compounds this issue by maintaining references to deleted content that can be accessed through API calls. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002, Access Data: Analyze Data, and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement. The flaw exists because the system does not properly implement cascading access controls that would ensure deleted content and its associated metadata are completely inaccessible to unauthorized users.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6472 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise user privacy, system integrity, and organizational security posture. Organizations using affected MediaWiki versions may experience unauthorized access to deleted content that could include sensitive business information, personal data, or confidential communications that were thought to be permanently removed from the system. This vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where users may delete content containing proprietary information, personal identifiers, or other sensitive materials. The exposure through multiple attack vectors increases the likelihood of successful exploitation and creates challenges for security monitoring and incident response. System administrators may face compliance issues with data protection regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, where the unauthorized disclosure of deleted information could constitute a breach. The vulnerability also undermines user trust in the system's ability to properly manage content lifecycle and maintain data confidentiality. Organizations may need to implement additional monitoring and access controls beyond the default MediaWiki configuration to mitigate the risk of unauthorized information retrieval.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate patching and ongoing access control enhancements. The primary solution involves upgrading to MediaWiki versions 1.19.10, 1.21.4, or 1.22.1, which contain the necessary fixes to properly enforce access controls on deleted content. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including enhanced API rate limiting, user access logging, and monitoring of log API calls for suspicious activity patterns. The system configuration should be reviewed to ensure that deleted content references are properly sanitized from user watchlists and recent changes feeds. Organizations should consider implementing automated scanning tools to detect and alert on unauthorized access attempts to deleted content through the affected API endpoints. Security teams should establish monitoring procedures for tracking access to log API functionality and user watchlist data, particularly for users who may have legitimate access to system administration features. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing that includes access control validation for all system components, particularly those handling content lifecycle operations. Regular security assessments should verify that deletion operations properly enforce data isolation and that no residual information remains accessible through alternative system interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing data retention policies that align with regulatory requirements and ensure that the system's information handling practices meet organizational security standards.