CVE-2019-18611 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2019-18611, a vulnerability in the CheckUser extension for MediaWiki, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information in oversighted edit summaries.
A problem was identified in the CheckUser extension for MediaWiki, version 1.34 and below. Users with different levels of access to this extension may have been able to see specific sensitive information in oversighted edit summaries exposed through the MediaWiki API. However, these users should not have had the ability to view these oversighted edit summaries via the MediaWiki API.
Understanding CVE-2019-18611
An issue was discovered in the CheckUser extension through version 1.34 for MediaWiki. Certain sensitive information within oversighted edit summaries made available via the MediaWiki API was potentially visible to users with various levels of access to this extension. Said users should not have been able to view these oversighted edit summaries via the MediaWiki API.
What is CVE-2019-18611?
CVE-2019-18611 is a vulnerability found in the CheckUser extension for MediaWiki, allowing users with different access levels to potentially view sensitive information in oversighted edit summaries through the MediaWiki API.
The Impact of CVE-2019-18611
The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, compromising the confidentiality of oversighted edit summaries within MediaWiki.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-18611
The technical details of the CVE-2019-18611 vulnerability are as follows:
Vulnerability Description
- CheckUser extension for MediaWiki, version 1.34 and below, allows users to view sensitive information in oversighted edit summaries through the MediaWiki API.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected version: CheckUser extension for MediaWiki 1.34 and below.
Exploitation Mechanism
- Users with different levels of access to the CheckUser extension could exploit the vulnerability to access oversighted edit summaries via the MediaWiki API.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2019-18611, follow these mitigation and prevention steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade the CheckUser extension to a patched version.
- Restrict access to oversighted edit summaries within the MediaWiki API.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly monitor and audit access to sensitive information.
- Educate users on proper data handling practices.
Patching and Updates
- Apply security patches and updates promptly to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.