CVE-2017-0371 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

MediaWiki versions before 1.23.16, 1.24.x through 1.27.x before 1.27.2, and 1.28.x before 1.28.1 are vulnerable to an attack that allows remote attackers to discover the IP addresses of Wiki visitors.

Understanding CVE-2017-0371

MediaWiki versions prior to specified releases are susceptible to an exploitation method that reveals visitor IP addresses.

What is CVE-2017-0371?

This CVE describes a vulnerability in MediaWiki that enables attackers to determine the IP addresses of visitors by utilizing a malicious URL within a DIV element's title attribute.

The Impact of CVE-2017-0371

Remote attackers can extract the IP addresses of users accessing a Wiki platform.
The vulnerability poses a privacy risk as it exposes sensitive visitor information.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-0371

MediaWiki's vulnerability to IP address exposure through a specific attack vector.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from an attacker-controlled URL within a DIV element's title attribute, exploited via a style="background-image: attr(title url);" attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

MediaWiki versions before 1.23.16
Versions 1.24.x through 1.27.x before 1.27.2
Versions 1.28.x before 1.28.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can leverage a crafted URL within a DIV element's title attribute to reveal visitor IP addresses.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from the CVE-2017-0371 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade MediaWiki to version 1.23.16 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access to visitor IP addresses.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update MediaWiki to the latest secure versions.
Conduct security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by MediaWiki to address the IP address exposure vulnerability.