Description
An issue was discovered in MediaWiki before 1.31.12 and 1.32.x through 1.35.x before 1.35.2. Users can bypass intended restrictions on deleting pages in certain "fast double move" situations. MovePage::isValidMoveTarget() uses FOR UPDATE, but it's only called if Title::getArticleID() returns non-zero with no special flags. Next, MovePage::moveToInternal() will delete the page if getArticleID(READ_LATEST) is non-zero. Therefore, if the page is missing in the replica DB, isValidMove() will return true, and then moveToInternal() will unconditionally delete the page if it can be found in the master.
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 | 1:1.35.2-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | mediawiki | 1:1.35.2-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | mediawiki | 1:1.35.2-1 | — |
| Debian 10 | mediawiki | 1:1.31.14-1~deb10u1 | DSA-4889-1 |
| Debian 9 | mediawiki | 1:1.27.7-1~deb9u8 | DLA-2648-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | mediawiki | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | mediawiki | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | mediawiki | No fix yet | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 24.04 LTS | mediawiki | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | mediawiki | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | mediawiki | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 2
- DSA-4889-1 mediawiki - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2648-1 mediawiki - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T272386
- DSA-4889 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-f4223b6684 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-d298103d3a vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210505 [SECURITY] [DLA 2648-1] mediawiki security update mailing-list
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210506 [SECURITY] [DLA 2648-2] mediawiki regression update mailing-list
- GLSA-202107-40 vendor-advisory