CVE-2025-53495 in AbuseFilter Extension
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Wikimedia Foundation Mediawiki - AbuseFilter Extension allows Unauthorized Access.This issue affects Mediawiki - AbuseFilter Extension: from 1.39.X before 1.39.13, from 1.42.X before 1.42.7, from 1.43.X before 1.43.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2025
The CVE-2025-53495 vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the Wikimedia Foundation MediaWiki AbuseFilter extension, which fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected wiki platforms. This missing authorization vulnerability allows attackers to bypass intended access controls and gain unauthorized access to restricted functionalities within the abuse filtering system. The vulnerability specifically impacts MediaWiki installations using the AbuseFilter extension across multiple version streams, including the 1.39.x series before 1.39.13, 1.42.x series before 1.42.7, and 1.43.x series before 1.43.2, indicating a widespread exposure across the MediaWiki ecosystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the AbuseFilter extension's administrative interfaces. When users attempt to access or modify abuse filter rules, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary authorization levels to perform these operations. This flaw creates a pathway for unauthorized users to manipulate filter configurations, potentially allowing them to bypass content moderation controls or gain access to sensitive administrative functions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including web-based interfaces and API calls that interact with the abuse filtering system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to compromise the integrity of content moderation processes on wiki platforms. Security researchers have identified that this weakness could allow malicious actors to modify or disable abuse filters that protect against spam, vandalism, and other unwanted content behaviors. Organizations relying on MediaWiki for collaborative content management may face significant risks including data corruption, unauthorized content modifications, and potential exposure of sensitive information. The vulnerability particularly affects wikis that depend heavily on abuse filtering for maintaining content quality and community safety standards, as outlined in common security practices for collaborative platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-53495 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MediaWiki installations to the latest supported versions that contain the necessary authorization fixes. System administrators must conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected AbuseFilter extension and ensure proper access controls are implemented. The remediation process should include verifying that all user accounts maintain appropriate permission levels and that administrative interfaces properly validate user credentials before granting access to sensitive functions. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual access patterns and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-863, which describes "Incorrect Authorization" conditions where a system fails to properly enforce access control mechanisms, and may map to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and unauthorized access within the credential access and defense evasion domains. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication and regular security audits to strengthen their overall defense posture against similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities.