CVE-2014-7199 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in MediaWiki before 1.19.19, 1.22.x before 1.22.11, and 1.23.x before 1.23.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted SVG file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The CVE-2014-7199 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in MediaWiki software versions prior to specific patch releases. This vulnerability resides in the handling of SVG file uploads and processing within the MediaWiki platform, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious code through web scripts or HTML injection. The flaw specifically affects MediaWiki installations in versions before 1.19.19, 1.22.x before 1.22.11, and 1.23.x before 1.23.4, making it a widespread concern for organizations maintaining older MediaWiki deployments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of SVG file content, particularly when these files are processed and rendered within the web application's user interface. This issue directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 related to spearphishing attachments. The technical implementation flaw occurs during SVG file processing where the application fails to properly escape or validate SVG elements that contain embedded JavaScript or malicious HTML content. When users view pages containing compromised SVG files, the malicious code executes in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the victim's privileges. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to manipulate user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. Attackers can craft SVG files with embedded malicious code that appears legitimate to users, making detection difficult and increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. Organizations running vulnerable MediaWiki versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in environments where users can upload files or where the platform serves as a content management system for sensitive information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to leverage web application flaws for unauthorized access to systems and data.
The security implications of CVE-2014-7199 extend into the realm of web application security best practices and demonstrate the importance of proper input validation and output encoding. MediaWiki's failure to adequately sanitize SVG content represents a breakdown in defense-in-depth principles, where multiple layers of security should prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 highlights the fundamental weakness in the application's ability to handle untrusted data, particularly when that data contains executable code. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability enables techniques such as T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, and T1566 for initial access through malicious attachments. The flaw operates by allowing attackers to upload SVG files that contain embedded JavaScript within SVG elements, which then executes when the file is rendered in a user's browser. This particular attack vector is especially dangerous because SVG files are commonly used for images and graphics, making them appear legitimate to users and administrators. The vulnerability's exploitation process involves creating a malicious SVG file with embedded script tags or event handlers that execute when the file is displayed in the browser, bypassing standard security controls. Organizations should understand that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how seemingly benign file types can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented. The impact on user trust and platform security is significant, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potentially the underlying system infrastructure. The remediation process requires immediate patching of affected MediaWiki installations to versions that properly validate and sanitize SVG content, along with implementing additional security measures such as file type restrictions and content security policies to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7199 must address both immediate remediation needs and long-term security improvements within MediaWiki environments. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of MediaWiki, specifically versions 1.19.19, 1.22.11, and 1.23.4, which contain proper input validation for SVG files. Beyond patching, administrators should implement additional security controls such as restrictive file upload policies that limit SVG file processing or disable SVG uploads entirely when not required. Content Security Policy headers should be configured to prevent script execution from untrusted sources, and proper output encoding should be implemented for all user-generated content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation at multiple layers within web applications, as highlighted by CWE-170 which addresses improper handling of input. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SVG file uploads, along with regular security audits of file upload functionality. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing detection capabilities for suspicious file upload activities and monitoring for execution of malicious scripts in browser contexts. Security teams should conduct thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the vulnerability is properly addressed without introducing regressions in functionality. Additionally, user education about the risks of uploading untrusted files and the importance of keeping software updated should be part of overall security awareness programs. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even common file types such as SVG can pose significant security risks when not properly handled by web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can identify and alert on potentially vulnerable MediaWiki installations within their infrastructure, particularly in environments where multiple applications share common infrastructure components. The long-term security posture requires continuous monitoring and updating of web applications to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities, as demonstrated by the evolution of security controls needed to address this specific XSS vulnerability in MediaWiki.