CVE-2024-28865 in django-wiki
Summary
by MITRE • 03/19/2024
django-wiki is a wiki system for Django. Installations of django-wiki prior to version 0.10.1 are vulnerable to maliciously crafted article content that can cause severe use of server CPU through a regular expression loop. Version 0.10.1 fixes this issue. As a workaround, close off access to create and edit articles by anonymous users.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28865 affects django-wiki, a popular wiki system built for the Django web framework. This security flaw represents a classic example of a regular expression denial of service (ReDoS) attack that can be exploited through crafted article content. The vulnerability specifically impacts installations running versions prior to 0.10.1, making it a critical concern for organizations that have not yet updated their systems. The flaw resides in how the application processes user input during article creation and editing operations, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to consume excessive computational resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of regular expressions within the wiki's content processing pipeline. When users submit articles containing specially crafted regular expressions in their content, the system's regex engine becomes susceptible to catastrophic backtracking scenarios. This occurs when the regular expression pattern fails to properly validate input or employs inefficient regex constructs that can exponentially increase processing time as input length grows. The vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition where server CPU resources become consumed at an alarming rate, potentially leading to complete system unresponsiveness. This issue aligns with CWE-400, which specifically addresses improper handling of regular expressions leading to resource exhaustion attacks. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication, making it accessible to anonymous users who can simply submit malicious content through the wiki's public interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-28865 extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting the availability of critical knowledge management systems within organizations. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause significant performance degradation or complete system outages, particularly in high-traffic environments where multiple users might simultaneously submit malicious content. The resource consumption pattern typical of ReDoS attacks means that even a single malicious submission can cause cascading effects across the entire system, as server resources become monopolized and legitimate users experience delays or complete access denial. Organizations relying on django-wiki for collaborative documentation, internal knowledge bases, or community-driven content management face substantial risk from this vulnerability. The attack's accessibility to anonymous users makes it particularly dangerous, as it can be exploited without requiring any authentication credentials or advanced technical knowledge. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability can be categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1499.004 technique, which involves resource exhaustion attacks targeting availability.
The remediation approach for CVE-2024-28865 involves upgrading to django-wiki version 0.10.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and regex optimization to prevent the catastrophic backtracking scenarios. This upgrade addresses the root cause by implementing more robust regular expression patterns and input sanitization mechanisms that prevent malicious content from triggering resource exhaustion conditions. Organizations unable to immediately upgrade can implement temporary workarounds, including restricting anonymous user access to article creation and editing functions. This mitigation strategy aligns with the principle of least privilege and helps reduce the attack surface by limiting who can submit potentially malicious content. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, including content sanitization and regex pattern validation, provides defense-in-depth protection. System administrators should also consider implementing rate limiting and monitoring for unusual CPU consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content where the potential for malicious input is high.