CVE-2021-46148 : Security Advisory and Response

An issue in MediaWiki versions before 1.35.5, 1.36.x before 1.36.3, and 1.37.x before 1.37.1 allows unprivileged users to access confidential data on a testwiki SecurePoll instance.

Understanding CVE-2021-46148

This CVE describes a security flaw in MediaWiki versions that could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information.

What is CVE-2021-46148?

The vulnerability in MediaWiki versions before 1.35.5, 1.36.x before 1.36.3, and 1.37.x before 1.37.1 enables unprivileged users to view confidential data, including IP addresses and User-Agent headers.

The Impact of CVE-2021-46148

Unauthorized users can access sensitive information, compromising the confidentiality of user data and potentially leading to privacy violations.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-46148

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows unprivileged users to see confidential information such as IP addresses and User-Agent headers on a testwiki SecurePoll instance.

Affected Systems and Versions

MediaWiki versions before 1.35.5
MediaWiki 1.36.x before 1.36.3
MediaWiki 1.37.x before 1.37.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Unprivileged users can exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive data on a testwiki SecurePoll instance.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems against CVE-2021-46148 is crucial for maintaining data security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade MediaWiki to version 1.35.5, 1.36.3, or 1.37.1 to patch the vulnerability.
Restrict access to sensitive information based on user privileges.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions to address security weaknesses.
Implement access controls to limit unauthorized users from viewing confidential data.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches released by MediaWiki promptly to fix the security vulnerability.