CVE-2020-35622 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue was discovered in the GlobalUsage extension for MediaWiki through 1.35.1. SpecialGlobalUsage.php calls WikiMap::makeForeignLink unsafely, potentially leading to XSS vulnerabilities.

Understanding CVE-2020-35622

This CVE involves a security flaw in the GlobalUsage extension for MediaWiki that could be exploited under certain conditions to execute cross-site scripting attacks.

What is CVE-2020-35622?

CVE-2020-35622 is a vulnerability in MediaWiki's GlobalUsage extension that allows for XSS attacks due to improper handling of the $page variable within the formatItem function.

The Impact of CVE-2020-35622

The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's browser, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-35622

The technical aspects of this CVE include:

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from SpecialGlobalUsage.php calling WikiMap::makeForeignLink unsafely.
Improper escaping of the $page variable within the formatItem function enables XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

MediaWiki versions up to 1.35.1 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts through the $page variable, leading to XSS under specific conditions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-35622, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update MediaWiki to version 1.35.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit extensions and plugins for security vulnerabilities.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in the future.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by MediaWiki to address known vulnerabilities.