CVE-2014-9477 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Listings extension for MediaWiki allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name or (2) url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2018
The CVE-2014-9477 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Listings extension for MediaWiki, a widely-used open-source wiki software platform. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of user-supplied input in two distinct parameter fields namely the name and url parameters. The Listings extension is designed to facilitate the creation and management of lists within MediaWiki environments, making it a common component across numerous wiki installations. The flaw arises from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter malicious content submitted through these parameters, creating a persistent security risk for affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the extension's failure to adequately sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages. When attackers submit malicious payloads through the name or url parameters, the application processes these inputs without sufficient validation controls to prevent script execution. This weakness aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from improper input sanitization. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including the injection of javascript code, html tags, or other malicious content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. The impact is particularly severe because MediaWiki installations often serve as collaborative platforms where users may have varying levels of trust, making the attack surface for XSS exploitation more extensive.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9477 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, redirect visitors to malicious websites, or execute arbitrary commands within the context of affected users' browsers. This vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for widely-accessible wiki platforms. The attack chain typically involves an attacker crafting malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements in either the name or url parameter fields, which are then stored and subsequently rendered to other users visiting the affected wiki pages. This creates a persistent threat vector where malicious content can affect multiple users over extended periods, potentially leading to credential theft, session hijacking, or the deployment of browser-based malware.
Organizations utilizing MediaWiki with the Listings extension should implement immediate remediation measures including applying the vendor-supplied patches or upgrading to patched versions of the software. The mitigation strategy should incorporate comprehensive input validation mechanisms that filter and escape all user-supplied data before processing, aligning with established security practices from the OWASP Top Ten project and the ATT&CK framework's defensive strategies. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS exploitation, while regular security audits and input sanitization testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the wiki platform. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts against known XSS patterns in their MediaWiki environments.