CVE-2023-37251 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue in the GoogleAnalyticsMetrics extension for MediaWiki allows for potential security risks through improper handling of JavaScript.

Understanding CVE-2023-37251

This article explains the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-37251.

What is CVE-2023-37251?

CVE-2023-37251 involves a vulnerability in the GoogleAnalyticsMetrics extension for MediaWiki, specifically related to the googleanalyticstrackurl parser function. This flaw allows the execution of JavaScript in an onclick handler, posing a risk of injecting malicious scripts through javascript: URLs.

The Impact of CVE-2023-37251

The vulnerability enables potential attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code, leading to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks and manipulation of user interactions within affected MediaWiki installations.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-37251

This section covers the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The googleanalyticstrackurl parser function fails to properly escape JavaScript within the onclick handler, enabling the execution of arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

The issue affects MediaWiki installations using the GoogleAnalyticsMetrics extension up to version 1.39.3.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the vulnerability in the googleanalyticstrackurl parser function, threat actors can inject malicious JavaScript code via javascript: URLs, compromising the integrity and security of the affected MediaWiki systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2023-37251, immediate actions, security best practices, and the importance of patching and updates are detailed below.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to disable the googleanalyticstrackurl parser function or implement proper input validation to prevent the execution of malicious scripts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the GoogleAnalyticsMetrics extension and MediaWiki to the latest versions, follow secure coding practices, and conduct security audits to prevent potential security vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by MediaWiki and extension developers to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-37251.