CVE-2023-29139 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
CVE-2023-29139 involves a denial of service vulnerability in MediaWiki through 1.39.3, allowing users with specific permissions to trigger DoS attacks. Learn the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
An issue has been identified in the CheckUser extension for MediaWiki through version 1.39.3, leading to a denial of service vulnerability under specific conditions.
Understanding CVE-2023-29139
This section will provide insights into the nature of the vulnerability and its potential impact.
What is CVE-2023-29139?
The CVE-2023-29139 involves a vulnerability in the CheckUser extension of MediaWiki that allows a user with checkuserlog permissions to trigger denial of service through excessive CheckUserLog API requests.
The Impact of CVE-2023-29139
The impact of CVE-2023-29139 is the potential for denial of service due to RequestTimeoutException or upstream request timeout when certain configurations are met.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-29139
Here, we delve into the specifics of the vulnerability, including affected systems, versions, and the exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the CheckUser extension in MediaWiki, specifically in how it handles CheckUserLog API requests made by users with checkuserlog permissions.
Affected Systems and Versions
All versions of MediaWiki up to 1.39.3 are affected by CVE-2023-29139 when the CheckUser extension is enabled.
Exploitation Mechanism
By sending a large number of CheckUserLog API requests, an authenticated user with checkuserlog permissions can exploit this vulnerability to cause denial of service incidents.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section focuses on the necessary steps to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2023-29139 and prevent potential exploitation.
Immediate Steps to Take
Administrators are advised to update MediaWiki to version 1.39.4 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched to prevent denial of service attacks.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly updating software and monitoring API requests are essential long-term practices to enhance system security and prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security patches released by MediaWiki and promptly apply any updates to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.