CVE-2025-61637
Description
A flaw was found in MediaWiki. A remote attacker with high privileges could exploit an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (Cross-site Scripting or XSS) vulnerability. This flaw allows the injection of malicious scripts into web pages, which can lead to information disclosure or session hijacking.
Statement
The vulnerability in MediaWiki allows for stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) through system messages. Exploitation requires high privileges, limiting the attack surface to trusted administrators or users with elevated permissions. Red Hat products utilizing MediaWiki are affected if configured to allow untrusted content from highly privileged users.
Mitigation
To mitigate this issue, restrict network access to the MediaWiki server to trusted networks only, utilizing firewall rules to prevent unauthorized access to the web application. Additionally, ensure that administrative privileges for MediaWiki are granted only to highly trusted personnel, as the vulnerability requires high privileges for script injection.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Access Control,Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism; Read Application Data
The most common attack performed with cross-site scripting involves the disclosure of private information stored in user cookies, such as session information. Typically, a malicious user will craft a client-side script, which -- when parsed by a web browser -- performs some activity on behalf of the victim to an attacker-controlled system (such as sending all site cookies to a given E-mail address). This could be especially dangerous to the site if the victim has administrator privileges to manage that site. This script will be loaded and run by each user visiting the web site. Since the site requesting to run the script has access to the cookies in question, the malicious script does also.
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
In some circumstances it may be possible to run arbitrary code on a victim's computer when cross-site scripting is combined with other flaws, for example, "drive-by hacking."
Confidentiality,Integrity,Availability,Access Control
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Bypass Protection Mechanism; Read Application Data
The consequence of an XSS attack is the same regardless of whether it is stored or reflected. The difference is in how the payload arrives at the server. XSS can cause a variety of problems for the end user that range in severity from an annoyance to complete account compromise. Some cross-site scripting vulnerabilities can be exploited to manipulate or steal cookies, create requests that can be mistaken for those of a valid user, compromise confidential information, or execute malicious code on the end user systems for a variety of nefarious purposes. Other damaging attacks include the disclosure of end user files, installation of Trojan horse programs, redirecting the user to some other page or site, running "Active X" controls (under Microsoft Internet Explorer) from sites that a user perceives as trustworthy, and modifying presentation of content.
Frequently Asked Questions
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