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Mediawiki CVE-2021-36132

HIGH
Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863)
2021-07-02 cve@mitre.org
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Authorization logic validation
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could bypass authorization checks to access restricted resources by sending crafted requests to the affected application.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 1.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

An issue was discovered in the FileImporter extension in MediaWiki through 1.36. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Review and test authorization logic, implement consistent access control checks, use centralized authorization framework.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863), which allows attackers to bypass authorization checks to access restricted resources. An issue was discovered in the FileImporter extension in MediaWiki through 1.36. For certain relaxed configurations of the $wgFileImporterRequiredRight variable, it might not validate all appropriate user rights, thus allowing a user with insufficient rights to perform operations (specifically file uploads) that they should not be allowed to perform. Affected products include: Mediawiki. Version information: through 1.36..

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

An issue was discovered in the FileImporter extension in MediaWiki through 1.36. For certain relaxed configurations of the $wgFileImporterRequiredRight variable, it might not validate all appropriate user rights, thus allowing a user with insufficient rights to perform operations (specifically file uploads) that they should not be allowed to perform.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.0%
Top 41% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 1.0%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

65
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +44
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:mediawiki:mediawiki:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2014-1610 MEDIUM POC
6.0 Jan 30

MediaWiki 1.22.x before 1.22.2, 1.21.x before 1.21.5, and 1.19.x before 1.19.11, when DjVu or PDF file upload support is

CVE-2015-8009 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jul 25

The MWOAuthDataStore::lookup_token function in Extension:OAuth for MediaWiki 1.25.x before 1.25.3, 1.24.x before 1.24.4,

CVE-2023-37303 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jun 30

An issue was discovered in the CheckUser extension for MediaWiki through 1.39.3. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), thi

CVE-2022-29906 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Apr 29

The admin API module in the QuizGame extension for MediaWiki through 1.37.2 (before 665e33a68f6fa1167df99c0aa18ed0157cdf

CVE-2022-29904 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Apr 29

The SemanticDrilldown extension for MediaWiki through 1.37.2 (before e688bdba6434591b5dff689a45e4d53459954773) allows SQ

CVE-2022-28206 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Mar 30

An issue was discovered in MediaWiki through 1.37.1. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely

CVE-2022-28205 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Mar 30

An issue was discovered in MediaWiki through 1.37.1. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely

CVE-2021-36128 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jul 02

An issue was discovered in the CentralAuth extension in MediaWiki through 1.36. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this

CVE-2021-36126 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jul 02

An issue was discovered in the AbuseFilter extension in MediaWiki through 1.36. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this

CVE-2017-8809 CRITICAL
9.8 Nov 15

api.php in MediaWiki before 1.27.4, 1.28.x before 1.28.3, and 1.29.x before 1.29.2 has a Reflected File Download vulnera

CVE-2024-47849 HIGH POC
8.8 Oct 05

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in The Wikimedia Foun

CVE-2025-61682 HIGH POC
8.6 Sep 18

Stored cross-site scripting in Semantic MediaWiki 3.1.0 through 6.x lets users with the MediaWiki 'edit' right inject ar

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