CVE-2025-53496 in MediaSearch Extension
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Wikimedia Foundation Mediawiki - MediaSearch Extension allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Mediawiki - MediaSearch Extension: from 1.39.X before 1.39.13, from 1.43.X before 1.43.2.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Wikimedia Foundation MediaWiki MediaSearch extension that enables stored XSS attacks. The issue stems from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, specifically within the MediaSearch extension functionality that handles media file metadata and search results. Attackers can inject malicious scripts through crafted input parameters that persist in the system and execute whenever affected pages are rendered to users, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for a platform that serves millions of users globally.
The technical flaw manifests when the MediaSearch extension processes user-supplied data without proper neutralization of potentially malicious input. This failure to sanitize input occurs during the web page generation phase, where the extension fails to properly encode or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers. The vulnerability affects specific version ranges including MediaWiki 1.39.X before 1.39.13 and 1.43.X before 1.43.2, indicating this flaw has been present for multiple release cycles and affects both stable and development branches of the software. The CWE-79 classification applies directly to this issue as it represents improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which is the standard categorization for cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this stored XSS vulnerability is severe given MediaWiki's widespread use in collaborative environments, educational institutions, and content management systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of any user's browser who views affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that malicious payloads persist in the system and can affect multiple users over time, unlike reflected XSS attacks that require specific user interaction. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with media search results or metadata displays.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected MediaWiki installations to versions 1.39.13 or 1.43.2, which contain the necessary input sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious input patterns, regular security scanning of MediaWiki installations, and comprehensive input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. The ATT&CK framework's T1566.001 technique for "Phishing with Malicious Attachment" and T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" are relevant to understanding how attackers might exploit this vulnerability. Administrators should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and monitor for unusual patterns in media search queries that could indicate exploitation attempts.