CVE-2020-9382 in Widgets Extension
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the Widgets extension through 1.4.0 for MediaWiki. Improper title sanitization allowed for the execution of any wiki page as a widget (as defined by this extension) via MediaWiki's {{#widget:}} parser function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9382 affects the Widgets extension version 1.4.0 and earlier in MediaWiki platforms, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the wiki system's access controls. This issue stems from inadequate sanitization of user-provided titles within the widget execution mechanism, creating a path for malicious actors to exploit the system's parser function and execute arbitrary wiki pages as widgets. The flaw specifically impacts MediaWiki's {{#widget:}} parser function, which is designed to embed widgets from designated sources into wiki pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of input validation within the Widgets extension's title processing logic. When users attempt to embed widgets using the parser function, the extension fails to properly sanitize or validate the title parameter that specifies which wiki page should be converted into a widget. This allows attackers to manipulate the title parameter to reference any existing wiki page, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized execution of arbitrary content. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes a widget request with a specially crafted title that points to a malicious or sensitive wiki page.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-9382 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the MediaWiki environment. This flaw could allow unauthorized users to access restricted content, execute malicious scripts, or manipulate wiki pages that should be protected. The vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where multiple users contribute content, as it could enable attackers to inject malicious widgets that execute when other users view affected pages. The implications are especially severe in enterprise or institutional wikis where sensitive information is stored, as attackers could potentially extract confidential data through widget execution.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Widgets extension, applying the latest MediaWiki security releases, and implementing additional input validation measures at the application level. Organizations should also consider monitoring for suspicious widget usage patterns and implementing network-level controls to restrict access to potentially vulnerable endpoints. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through wiki-based systems. Additionally, the issue demonstrates characteristics of privilege escalation through improper access control mechanisms, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1484 for cloud service discovery. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their wiki environments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other extensions and ensure comprehensive protection against similar exploitation vectors.