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CVE-2025-32068: CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization in The Wikimedia Foundation Mediawiki - OAuth Extension

Medium
VulnerabilityCVE-2025-32068cvecve-2025-32068cwe-863
Published: Fri Apr 11 2025 (04/11/2025, 16:21:11 UTC)
Source: CVE Database V5
Vendor/Project: The Wikimedia Foundation
Product: Mediawiki - OAuth Extension

Description

Incorrect Authorization vulnerability in The Wikimedia Foundation Mediawiki - OAuth Extension allows Authentication Bypass.This issue affects Mediawiki - OAuth Extension: from 1.39 through 1.43.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/03/2025, 16:56:27 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2025-32068 is an authorization vulnerability identified in the OAuth Extension of the MediaWiki software maintained by The Wikimedia Foundation. Specifically, this flaw is categorized under CWE-863, which refers to Incorrect Authorization. The vulnerability affects MediaWiki OAuth Extension versions from 1.39 through 1.43. The OAuth Extension is responsible for enabling OAuth-based authentication and authorization mechanisms, allowing users to log in via third-party OAuth providers. The incorrect authorization issue implies that the extension fails to properly enforce access control checks, potentially allowing an attacker to bypass authentication requirements. This could enable unauthorized users to gain access to restricted functionalities or data within MediaWiki instances that use the vulnerable OAuth Extension versions. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the flaw's presence in widely used versions of MediaWiki's OAuth Extension presents a significant risk. The lack of a CVSS score suggests that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and has not yet undergone a formal severity assessment. The vulnerability was published on April 11, 2025, shortly after being reserved on April 3, 2025. The absence of patch links indicates that a fix may not yet be publicly available, increasing the urgency for affected organizations to monitor updates and apply patches once released.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for those relying on MediaWiki platforms for internal knowledge bases, documentation, or collaborative projects. Unauthorized access through authentication bypass could lead to exposure of sensitive information, unauthorized content modification, or disruption of collaborative workflows. Given that MediaWiki is widely used in academic, governmental, and corporate environments across Europe, exploitation could compromise confidentiality and integrity of critical data. Furthermore, organizations that integrate MediaWiki with other internal systems or use it as a central repository for intellectual property may face increased risks of data leakage or sabotage. The vulnerability could also undermine trust in organizational IT infrastructure and lead to compliance issues under regulations such as GDPR if personal data is exposed. Although no active exploits are known, the potential for attackers to develop exploits targeting this flaw is high, especially considering the popularity of MediaWiki in Europe. The lack of authentication enforcement could also facilitate lateral movement within networks if attackers gain initial footholds through this vulnerability.

Mitigation Recommendations

European organizations should immediately audit their MediaWiki installations to determine if they are running affected OAuth Extension versions (1.39 through 1.43). Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider the following mitigations: 1) Disable the OAuth Extension temporarily if feasible, to prevent exploitation of the authorization bypass. 2) Restrict access to MediaWiki instances to trusted networks or VPNs to reduce exposure to external attackers. 3) Implement additional access controls at the web server or application firewall level to enforce authentication and authorization policies. 4) Monitor MediaWiki logs for unusual authentication or access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Stay informed via official Wikimedia Foundation channels for patch releases and apply updates promptly once available. 6) Consider deploying compensating controls such as multi-factor authentication on OAuth providers and limiting OAuth scopes to minimize potential damage. 7) Conduct internal security reviews and penetration testing focused on MediaWiki OAuth workflows to identify any other weaknesses.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
wikimedia-foundation
Date Reserved
2025-04-03T21:56:59.951Z
Cvss Version
null
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 6866b2446f40f0eb7299336a

Added to database: 7/3/2025, 4:39:32 PM

Last enriched: 7/3/2025, 4:56:27 PM

Last updated: 8/12/2025, 2:11:44 PM

Views: 17

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