MediaWiki 1.19.9/1.21.3/1.22.0 Authentication User.php race condition
| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in MediaWiki 1.19.9/1.21.3/1.22.0. Impacted is an unknown function of the file User.php of the component Authentication. Performing a manipulation results in race condition. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2014-2243. There is not any exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in MediaWiki 1.19.9/1.21.3/1.22.0 (Content Management System). This affects some unknown processing of the file User.php of the component Authentication. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:
includes/User.php in MediaWiki before 1.19.12, 1.20.x and 1.21.x before 1.21.6, and 1.22.x before 1.22.3 terminates validation of a user token upon encountering the first incorrect character, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a brute-force attack that relies on timing differences in responses to incorrect token guesses.
The weakness was released 03/02/2014 by Mario Gomes as MediaWiki Security and Maintenance Releases: 1.22.3, 1.21.6 and 1.19.12 as confirmed posting (Mailing List). The advisory is shared at lists.wikimedia.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2014-2243 since 02/28/2014. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. CVE summarizes: "MediaWiki (…) terminates validation of a user token upon encountering the first incorrect character, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a brute-force attack that relies on timing differences in responses to incorrect token guesses."
By approaching the search of inurl:User.php it is possible to find vulnerable targets with Google Hacking. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 72916 (Fedora 20 : mediawiki-1.21.6-1.fc20 (2014-3338)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Fedora Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 121915 (Fedora Security Update for mediawiki (FEDORA-2014-3338)).
Upgrading to version 1.22.3, 1.21.6 or 1.19.12 eliminates this vulnerability. The upgrade is hosted for download at mediawiki.org.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (91534), Tenable (72916), SecurityFocus (BID 65883†), Secunia (SA57184†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-43663†). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-12493 and VDB-12502. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Product
Type
Name
Version
License
Website
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.3VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
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| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Race conditionCWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔍
Status: Unproven
Google Hack: 🔍
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Nessus ID: 72916
Nessus Name: Fedora 20 : mediawiki-1.21.6-1.fc20 (2014-3338)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
OpenVAS ID: 867564
OpenVAS Name: Fedora Update for mediawiki FEDORA-2014-3338
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍
Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
Upgrade: MediaWiki 1.22.3/1.21.6/1.19.12
Timeline
02/28/2014 🔍02/28/2014 🔍
03/01/2014 🔍
03/02/2014 🔍
03/03/2014 🔍
03/05/2014 🔍
03/07/2014 🔍
03/18/2014 🔍
04/12/2025 🔍
Sources
Product: mediawiki.orgAdvisory: MediaWiki Security and Maintenance Releases: 1.22.3, 1.21.6 and 1.19.12
Researcher: Mario Gomes
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍
CVE: CVE-2014-2243 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2014-2243
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-12501
X-Force: 91534 - MediaWiki User.php brute force, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 65883 - MediaWiki CVE-2014-2243 Information Disclosure Vulnerability
Secunia: 57184 - MediaWiki Weakness and Two Vulnerabilities, Less Critical
Vulnerability Center: 43663 - MediaWiki Remote Security Bypass Vulnerability via Brute-Force Attack - CVE-2014-2243, Medium
See also: 🔍
Entry
Created: 03/07/2014 13:32Updated: 04/12/2025 22:30
Changes: 03/07/2014 13:32 (82), 05/23/2017 08:50 (4), 06/15/2021 09:41 (3), 04/12/2025 22:30 (15)
Complete: 🔍
Committer:
Cache ID: 216::103
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
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