CVE-2014-9276 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Special:ExpandedTemplates page in MediaWiki before 1.19.22, 1.20.x through 1.22.x before 1.22.14, and 1.23.x before 1.23.7, when $wgRawHTML is set to true, allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of users with edit permissions for requests that cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the wpInput parameter, which is not properly handled in the preview.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2022
The CVE-2014-9276 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within MediaWiki's Special:ExpandedTemplates functionality. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to the mentioned security patches across multiple release branches, creating a significant risk for wiki administrators and users who rely on the platform for collaborative content management. The flaw becomes particularly dangerous when the $wgRawHTML configuration parameter is enabled, as this setting permits the execution of raw html content within wiki pages, thereby expanding the attack surface for malicious actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of the wpInput parameter within the preview functionality of the Special:ExpandedTemplates page. When users with edit permissions access this page and submit content through the wpInput parameter, the system fails to validate or sanitize the input properly, creating a pathway for attackers to craft malicious requests that can be executed without the user's knowledge or consent. This flaw essentially allows an attacker to trick authenticated users into performing unintended actions on the wiki platform, leveraging their existing privileges and session tokens.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to manipulate wiki content in ways that could compromise the integrity of entire wikis. When combined with the $wgRawHTML setting, the vulnerability becomes even more severe because attackers can inject malicious scripts that persist in the wiki environment. This creates a persistent threat vector that can affect not only the immediate target of the CSRF attack but also other users who may encounter the malicious content through various wiki features. The vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where multiple users edit content, as it can be used to inject malicious code that executes when other users view affected pages.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery conditions in web applications. The flaw demonstrates how configuration settings like $wgRawHTML can inadvertently create security risks when combined with insufficient input validation mechanisms. The attack vector follows typical CSRF patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of credential access and privilege escalation. Organizations using MediaWiki systems must understand that this vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security model, particularly in how it handles user input and session management during content preview operations.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate patching of affected MediaWiki versions to the latest secure releases, as well as careful review of the $wgRawHTML configuration setting. Administrators should disable raw html processing unless absolutely necessary for specific use cases, and implement additional security measures such as CSRF tokens for all edit operations. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional defense in depth. Regular security audits of wiki configurations and user permissions should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other areas of the platform, particularly focusing on input validation and session management practices that align with industry standards for secure web application development.