CVE-2025-53499 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.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2025
The CVE-2025-53499 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Wikimedia Foundation MediaWiki AbuseFilter extension, exposing systems to unauthorized access conditions that can compromise content integrity and system security. This vulnerability specifically targets the authorization mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive administrative functions within the MediaWiki platform. The flaw exists in multiple version ranges including 1.39.X before 1.39.13, 1.42.X before 1.42.7, and 1.43.X before 1.43.2, indicating a widespread impact across several major MediaWiki release lines. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control validation within the AbuseFilter extension, which is designed to monitor and filter user contributions to prevent abuse such as spam, vandalism, and other malicious activities. When this authorization check fails, malicious actors can potentially bypass normal access controls and execute administrative functions without proper authentication or privilege validation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the failure of the extension to properly verify user permissions before allowing access to sensitive administrative interfaces or functions. This missing authorization check typically occurs when the system does not adequately validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to perform specific actions within the AbuseFilter configuration or management interfaces. The flaw can be exploited by users who lack proper authorization to access these administrative functions, potentially allowing them to modify filter rules, view sensitive configuration data, or perform other privileged operations that should be restricted to authorized administrators only. This represents a classic authorization bypass vulnerability that aligns with CWE-862, which specifically addresses "Missing Authorization" flaws in software systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it can enable attackers to manipulate content filtering mechanisms, potentially allowing them to bypass existing protections or create new filter rules that could be used for malicious purposes.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-53499 is significant for organizations relying on MediaWiki platforms, particularly those that depend on the AbuseFilter extension for content moderation and security. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to administrative functions within the MediaWiki system, potentially leading to content manipulation, data integrity compromise, and disruption of legitimate user activities. The attack surface is particularly concerning for wikis that host sensitive information or have large user bases where unauthorized modifications could have widespread consequences. This vulnerability can be exploited using techniques aligned with ATT&CK tactic T1078, which covers legitimate credentials usage, as attackers may leverage the bypassed authorization to perform actions that would normally require administrative privileges. Organizations using affected MediaWiki versions face risks including potential data corruption, unauthorized content modification, and the possibility of attackers establishing persistent access through manipulated filter configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-53499 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MediaWiki installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary authorization fixes. System administrators should ensure that all instances running vulnerable versions of the AbuseFilter extension are updated promptly to prevent exploitation. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of administrative access logs to detect any unauthorized access attempts or suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reviewed to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to trusted networks only. The remediation process should include thorough validation that all authorization checks are properly enforced within the AbuseFilter extension and that no bypass mechanisms remain active. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to ensure that no other components within the MediaWiki ecosystem are similarly affected by authorization bypass vulnerabilities. Organizations should maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to monitor for any exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability and implement appropriate incident response procedures to address potential compromise scenarios.