CVE-2018-0503 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2018-0503, related to Mediawiki versions before 1.31.1, 1.30.1, 1.29.3, and 1.27.5, involves a vulnerability in the $wgRateLimits setting. This article provides insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2018-0503

This CVE pertains to a specific vulnerability in Mediawiki versions prior to 1.31.1, 1.30.1, 1.29.3, and 1.27.5, affecting the $wgRateLimits setting.

What is CVE-2018-0503?

The vulnerability in Mediawiki versions earlier than 1.31.1, 1.30.1, 1.29.3, and 1.27.5 is associated with the $wgRateLimits setting. It deviates from the documented behavior where the 'user' entry overrides the 'newbie' entry.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0503

The vulnerability allows for improper implementation of documentation/spec, potentially leading to security risks and unauthorized access within affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0503

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Mediawiki versions before 1.31.1, 1.30.1, 1.29.3, and 1.27.5 exhibit a flaw where the $wgRateLimits entry for 'user' takes precedence over that for 'newbie', contrary to the documented behavior.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Mediawiki
Vendor: Mediawiki
Versions: Before 1.31.1, 1.30.1, 1.29.3, and 1.27.5

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to bypass intended rate limits and potentially gain unauthorized access to the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-0503 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Mediawiki to versions 1.31.1, 1.30.1, 1.29.3, or 1.27.5 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Review and adjust rate limit configurations to ensure proper functionality.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software to address security vulnerabilities promptly.
Implement access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Mediawiki to address the vulnerability effectively.