CVE-2022-41767 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue was discovered in MediaWiki before versions 1.35.8, 1.36.x, 1.37.x, and 1.38.x. This vulnerability allows changes made by an IP address to be incorrectly attributed to that IP address even after being reassigned to a user.

Understanding CVE-2022-41767

MediaWiki versions prior to 1.35.8, 1.36.x, 1.37.x, and 1.38.x have a security issue that affects attribution of changes made by IP addresses.

What is CVE-2022-41767?

CVE-2022-41767 is a vulnerability in MediaWiki where changes made by an IP address can still be attributed to that IP address even after being reassigned to a user. This occurs when using reassignEdits.php, leading to incorrect attribution of edits.

The Impact of CVE-2022-41767

This vulnerability can result in misleading attribution of changes, impacting the traceability of edits within MediaWiki instances. It can potentially lead to confusion and incorrect accountability of contributions.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-41767

The following technical details outline the specifics of CVE-2022-41767.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows changes made by an IP address to remain attributed to that IP address on Special:Contributions even after being reassigned to a user through reassignEdits.php, affecting traceability of edits.

Affected Systems and Versions

MediaWiki versions before 1.35.8, 1.36.x, 1.37.x, and 1.38.x are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves making changes using an IP address and then reassigning those edits to a different user, causing the edits to still appear as if made by the IP address.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2022-41767, the following steps can be taken:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade MediaWiki to the patched versions (1.35.8, 1.36.x, 1.37.x, or 1.38.x) where this issue is resolved.
Monitor changes in Special:Contributions to verify accurate attribution of edits.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and maintain MediaWiki installations to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
Educate users on proper attribution practices within MediaWiki.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by MediaWiki for versions 1.35.8, 1.36.x, 1.37.x, and 1.38.x to address the attribution vulnerability.