Description
The transwiki import functionality in MediaWiki before 1.16.3 does not properly check privileges, which allows remote authenticated users to perform imports from any wgImportSources wiki via a crafted POST request.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | mediawiki | 1:1.15.5-5 | — |
| Debian 13 | mediawiki | 1:1.15.5-5 | — |
| Debian 12 | mediawiki | 1:1.15.5-5 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | mediawiki | 1:1.15.5-2squeeze2 | DSA-2366-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | mediawiki | 1:1.12.0-2lenny9 | DSA-2366-1 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-2366-1 mediawiki - multiple Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- FEDORA-2011-5495 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0978 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2011-5807 vendor-advisory
- 47354 vdb-entry
- 44142 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2011-5848 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-1151 vdb-entry
- DSA-2366 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=696360
- [mediawiki-announce] 20110412 MediaWiki security release 1.16.3 mailing-list
- mediawiki-transwiki-sec-bypass(66739) vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=28449
- ADV-2011-1100 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2011-5812 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=695577
- [oss-security] 20110413 Re: CVE request: mediawiki 1.16.3 mailing-list