CVE-2021-42044 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An issue was discovered in the Mentor dashboard in the GrowthExperiments extension in MediaWiki through 1.36.2. The Growthexperiments-mentor-dashboard-mentee-overview-add-filter-total-edits-headline, growthexperiments-mentor-dashboard-mentee-overview-add-filter-starred-headline, growthexperiments-mentor-dashboard-mentee-overview-info-text, growthexperiments-mentor-dashboard-mentee-overview-info-legend-headline, and growthexperiments-mentor-dashboard-mentee-overview-active-ago MediaWiki messages were not being properly sanitized and allowed for the injection and execution of HTML and JavaScript.

Understanding CVE-2021-42044

What is CVE-2021-42044?

The CVE-2021-42044 vulnerability is a security issue found in the Mentor dashboard in the GrowthExperiments extension in MediaWiki versions up to 1.36.2. It arises from improper sanitation of specific MediaWiki messages, permitting the injection and execution of HTML and JavaScript.

The Impact of CVE-2021-42044

This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code within the affected MediaWiki instances, potentially leading to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, data theft, and other malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-42044

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from the lack of proper sanitation in certain MediaWiki messages within the GrowthExperiments extension.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: MediaWiki
Version: Up to 1.36.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows threat actors to inject and run malicious HTML and JavaScript code within the impacted MediaWiki installations, compromising the security and integrity of the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the latest security patches and updates provided by MediaWiki to address the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for any abnormal activities within the Mentor dashboard component.
Educate users about the risks associated with executing untrusted code.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits on MediaWiki installations to identify and resolve potential security gaps.
Implement strict input validation mechanisms to prevent code injection vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial to stay updated with security advisories from MediaWiki and promptly apply patches to mitigate the CVE-2021-42044 vulnerability.