CVE-2023-37301 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in SubmitEntityAction in Wikibase in MediaWiki through 1.39.3. Because it doesn't use EditEntity for undo and restore, the intended interaction with AbuseFilter does not occur.

Understanding CVE-2023-37301

This CVE relates to a vulnerability found in Wikibase in MediaWiki versions up to 1.39.3, affecting the SubmitEntityAction functionality.

What is CVE-2023-37301?

CVE-2023-37301 highlights a flaw in the SubmitEntityAction of Wikibase in MediaWiki, leading to a failure in triggering the intended interaction with AbuseFilter due to the lack of EditEntity usage.

The Impact of CVE-2023-37301

This vulnerability could potentially be exploited by malicious actors to bypass security controls related to AbuseFilter, compromising the integrity of the system and data within MediaWiki installations.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-37301

The technical details of the CVE-2023-37301 vulnerability include:

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in the SubmitEntityAction function of Wikibase in MediaWiki up to version 1.39.3. Its failure to utilize EditEntity for undo and restore operations results in the undesired behavior with AbuseFilter.

Affected Systems and Versions

All MediaWiki instances running versions up to 1.39.3 with the Wikibase extension are susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious entities can exploit this vulnerability to evade AbuseFilter controls by performing actions that would typically trigger filter responses.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-37301, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update MediaWiki to version 1.39.4 or later, which includes patches addressing this vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate users on safe editing practices within MediaWiki to prevent inadvertent security breaches.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by MediaWiki to safeguard against known vulnerabilities.