Cloud Defense Logo

Products

Solutions

Company

CVE-2017-8808 : Security Advisory and Response

Learn about CVE-2017-8808, an XSS vulnerability in MediaWiki versions before 1.27.4, 1.28.x before 1.28.3, and 1.29.x before 1.29.2. Find out the impact, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps.

MediaWiki before 1.27.4, 1.28.x before 1.28.3, and 1.29.x before 1.29.2 has an XSS vulnerability when the $wgShowExceptionDetails setting is false and non-standard URL escaping is used by the browser.

Understanding CVE-2017-8808

This CVE involves an XSS vulnerability in specific versions of MediaWiki that can be exploited under certain conditions.

What is CVE-2017-8808?

CVE-2017-8808 is an XSS vulnerability found in MediaWiki versions prior to 1.27.4, 1.28.x before 1.28.3, and 1.29.x before 1.29.2. The vulnerability arises when the $wgShowExceptionDetails setting is disabled, and the browser utilizes non-standard URL escaping.

The Impact of CVE-2017-8808

This vulnerability could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8808

MediaWiki versions before 1.27.4, 1.28.x before 1.28.3, and 1.29.x before 1.29.2 are susceptible to an XSS vulnerability due to specific configurations and browser behavior.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in CVE-2017-8808 occurs when $wgShowExceptionDetails is set to false and non-standard URL escaping is employed by the browser, enabling malicious script execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

        MediaWiki versions before 1.27.4
        MediaWiki 1.28.x before 1.28.3
        MediaWiki 1.29.x before 1.29.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious URLs that, when clicked by users, execute unauthorized scripts due to the XSS issue.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-8808 and enhance security, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

        Update MediaWiki to versions 1.27.4, 1.28.3, or 1.29.2 to eliminate the XSS vulnerability.
        Ensure $wgShowExceptionDetails is set to true to prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

        Regularly monitor and update software to patch known vulnerabilities promptly.
        Educate users on safe browsing practices to minimize the risk of XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

        Apply security patches provided by MediaWiki to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-8808.

Popular CVEs

CVE Id

Published Date

Is your System Free of Underlying Vulnerabilities?
Find Out Now