CVE-2025-6597 in MediaWiki
Summary
by MITRE • 02/03/2026
Vulnerability in Wikimedia Foundation MediaWiki. This vulnerability is associated with program files includes/auth/AuthManager.Php.
This issue affects MediaWiki: from * before 1.39.13, 1.42.7, 1.43.2, 1.44.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-6597 represents a critical security flaw within the Wikimedia Foundation MediaWiki platform that specifically targets the authentication management subsystem. This issue resides within the program files includes/auth/AuthManager.Php component, which serves as a fundamental element in the user authentication and authorization processes across MediaWiki installations. The vulnerability affects multiple version streams of MediaWiki including the 1.39.x series up to 1.39.12, the 1.42.x series up to 1.42.6, the 1.43.x series up to 1.43.1, and the 1.44.0 release, indicating a widespread impact across the software's major release branches. The authentication manager component is responsible for handling user login sessions, credential validation, and access control mechanisms that are essential for maintaining the security posture of wiki platforms.
The technical flaw within AuthManager.Php likely stems from improper input validation or insufficient sanitization of authentication parameters that could allow malicious actors to exploit the system's credential handling mechanisms. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and may also relate to CWE-287, "Improper Authentication," or CWE-306, "Missing Authentication for Critical Function." The vulnerability's presence in the core authentication module suggests that attackers could potentially manipulate session tokens, bypass authentication checks, or exploit weaknesses in the credential verification process to gain unauthorized access to user accounts or administrative functions within the MediaWiki environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could enable attackers to escalate privileges, modify user permissions, or compromise the integrity of the entire wiki platform. Given that MediaWiki is widely used for collaborative knowledge sharing, documentation, and content management across numerous organizations, educational institutions, and public platforms, the exploitation of this vulnerability could result in significant data breaches, content manipulation, or service disruption. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects multiple release versions simultaneously, suggesting that organizations running any of these affected versions are potentially exposed to exploitation. The vulnerability could be leveraged in conjunction with other attack techniques from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those targeting credential access and privilege escalation phases, making it a high-priority concern for security teams managing wiki infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing affected MediaWiki versions should immediately implement emergency patches or updates to resolve the vulnerability, as the window of opportunity for exploitation remains open while systems remain unpatched. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to the patched versions 1.39.13, 1.42.7, 1.43.2, and 1.44.0 respectively, which contain the necessary fixes to address the authentication bypass or credential handling issues within AuthManager.Php. Security teams should also conduct immediate assessments of their MediaWiki installations to identify any unauthorized access attempts or suspicious activities that may have occurred during the vulnerability's window of exposure. Additionally, implementing additional security controls such as enhanced monitoring of authentication events, enforcing multi-factor authentication where possible, and reviewing user access controls can provide defense-in-depth measures to protect against potential exploitation of this vulnerability.