CVE-2021-46147 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue discovered in MediaWiki before 1.35.5, 1.36.x before 1.36.3, and 1.37.x before 1.37.1 allowed CSRF through MassEditRegex.

Understanding CVE-2021-46147

This CVE pertains to a vulnerability in MediaWiki that could be exploited for CSRF attacks.

What is CVE-2021-46147?

The CVE-2021-46147 vulnerability is found in MediaWiki versions prior to 1.35.5, 1.36.3, and 1.37.1, enabling Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) via MassEditRegex.

The Impact of CVE-2021-46147

This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, leading to potential data modifications or unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-46147

CVE-2021-46147 involves the following technical aspects:

Vulnerability Description

The issue in MediaWiki versions before 1.35.5, 1.36.3, and 1.37.1 allows for CSRF through MassEditRegex, enabling attackers to perform unauthorized actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

MediaWiki versions before 1.35.5
MediaWiki versions before 1.36.3
MediaWiki versions before 1.37.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can leverage the MassEditRegex feature to initiate CSRF attacks

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-46147, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement Input Validation techniques to mitigate the risk of CSRF attacks
Employ Anti-CSRF tokens to validate and authenticate user actions

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update MediaWiki installations to the latest secure versions
Educate users on safe browsing practices and the risks associated with CSRF

Patching and Updates

Apply the necessary patches released by MediaWiki to address the CSRF vulnerability