CVE-2025-7056 in UrlShortener 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 - UrlShortener Extension allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Mediawiki - UrlShortener Extension: 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-2025-7056 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the Wikimedia Foundation MediaWiki UrlShortener extension, specifically targeting stored XSS attack vectors. This flaw resides in the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes, creating a persistent security risk that can affect millions of users across Wikimedia projects. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being rendered in web pages, allowing malicious scripts to be permanently stored and executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the UrlShortener extension's codebase. When users submit shortened URLs or related data through the extension's interface, the system fails to properly escape or sanitize special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code. This weakness aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads persist in the application's database and are served to unsuspecting users whenever they access affected pages, making the attack vector particularly dangerous as it can propagate automatically without requiring user interaction beyond initial exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code in users' browsers with the privileges of the targeted user. This capability allows for complete compromise of user sessions, potential data exfiltration, and the ability to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. Given that MediaWiki serves as the foundation for Wikipedia and numerous other collaborative platforms, the scope of potential damage is substantial, with attackers able to manipulate content, steal user credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects specific version ranges including MediaWiki 1.42.X before 1.42.7 and 1.43.X before 1.43.2, indicating that organizations running these versions are at risk of exploitation and should prioritize immediate remediation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-7056 require immediate patching of affected MediaWiki installations to versions 1.42.7 or 1.43.2, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation measures, including strict sanitization of all user-supplied data and proper output encoding before rendering content in web pages. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their MediaWiki deployments to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities that may exist within the broader application ecosystem. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of defense against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security controls as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's techniques for command and control and credential access, which emphasize the need for proper input validation and output encoding to prevent exploitation of such fundamental web application security flaws.