Description
MediaWiki before 1.36.2 allows a denial of service (resource consumption because of lengthy query processing time). ApiQueryBacklinks (action=query&list=backlinks) can cause a full table scan.
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 | 1:1.35.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | mediawiki | 1:1.35.4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | mediawiki | 1:1.35.4-1 | — |
| Debian 11 | mediawiki | 1:1.35.4-1~deb11u1 | DSA-4979-1 |
| Debian 10 | mediawiki | 1:1.31.16-1~deb10u1 | DSA-4979-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 9 | mediawiki | 1:1.27.7-1~deb9u10 | DLA-2779-1 |
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 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | 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 3
- DSA-4979-1 mediawiki - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2779-1 mediawiki - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-1260 MediaWiki: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · May 21, 2023
References
- https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T290394
- https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikitech-l%40lists.wikimedia.org/thread/2IFS5CM2YV4VMSODPX3J2LFHKSEWVFV5/
- FEDORA-2021-eee8b7514f vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-56d8173b5e vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-3dd1b66cbf vendor-advisory
- GLSA-202305-24 vendor-advisory