CVE-2023-45363 : Security Advisory and Response

An issue was discovered in ApiPageSet.php in MediaWiki before 1.35.12, 1.36.x through 1.39.x before 1.39.5, and 1.40.x before 1.40.1. It allows attackers to cause a denial of service (unbounded loop and RequestTimeoutException) when querying pages redirected to other variants with redirects and converttitles set.

Understanding CVE-2023-45363

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in earlier versions of MediaWiki that could lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2023-45363?

CVE-2023-45363 is a security flaw in ApiPageSet.php in MediaWiki versions before 1.35.12, 1.36.x through 1.39.x before 1.39.5, and 1.40.x before 1.40.1. Attackers can exploit this issue to trigger a denial of service by causing an unbounded loop and RequestTimeoutException.

The Impact of CVE-2023-45363

The vulnerability allows malicious actors to disrupt the normal operation of affected MediaWiki instances, leading to service unavailability and potential data loss.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-45363

This section outlines the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in ApiPageSet.php can be exploited by attackers to manipulate pages redirected to other variants, ultimately resulting in a denial of service condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

MediaWiki versions before 1.35.12, between 1.36.x and 1.39.x before 1.39.5, and between 1.40.x and 1.40.1 are susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by querying pages redirected to other variants with specific configurations, causing an unbounded loop and RequestTimeoutException.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2023-45363 involves immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to update affected MediaWiki instances to versions that contain the necessary security patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring for any unusual server behavior can help detect potential exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strong access controls, regular security updates, and maintaining an incident response plan can enhance the overall security posture of systems that may be prone to similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Applying the latest security updates provided by MediaWiki is crucial to mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2023-45363.