CVE-2025-32956 is a high-severity SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) found in the ManageWiki extension for MediaWiki, a popular wiki platform. ManageWiki enables users to manage namespaces and other wiki configurations. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to commit f504ed8 and is triggered when renaming a namespace via the Special:ManageWiki/namespaces interface. Specifically, if an attacker supplies a malicious payload as the page prefix (the namespace name being renamed), the input is not properly sanitized, allowing the injection of arbitrary SQL commands. This improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying database. The vulnerability requires at least low privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R), but no complex attack conditions or elevated privileges are needed. The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.0, reflecting the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with network attack vector and low attack complexity. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability has been patched in commit f504ed8. A temporary workaround involves disabling namespace management by setting $wgManageWiki['namespaces'] = false, which mitigates the attack surface by preventing the vulnerable functionality from being used. This vulnerability highlights the risks of insufficient input validation in web applications, especially in administrative interfaces that modify database structures or metadata.

For European organizations using MediaWiki with the ManageWiki extension, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially leading to data breaches involving sensitive or confidential information stored in the wiki databases. This could include intellectual property, internal documentation, or personally identifiable information (PII), which are subject to strict data protection regulations such as GDPR. Data integrity could be compromised by unauthorized modifications or deletions, disrupting business operations and knowledge management. Availability may also be impacted if attackers delete or corrupt critical data, causing downtime or loss of service. Given that MediaWiki is widely used in academic, governmental, and corporate environments across Europe, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of sectors. The requirement for user interaction and low privilege means that phishing or social engineering could facilitate exploitation, increasing the threat surface. The reputational damage and potential regulatory penalties from data breaches further amplify the impact on European organizations.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately apply the official patch introduced in commit f504ed8 to upgrade ManageWiki to a secure version. If patching is not immediately feasible, the workaround of disabling namespace management by setting $wgManageWiki['namespaces'] = false should be implemented to prevent exploitation. Organizations should audit their MediaWiki installations to identify affected versions and restrict access to the Special:ManageWiki/namespaces interface to trusted administrators only, reducing the risk of malicious input. Implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with SQL injection detection rules can provide an additional layer of defense. Regularly monitoring logs for suspicious activity related to namespace renaming or unusual SQL errors can help detect attempted exploitation. Security teams should also educate administrators about the risks of social engineering attacks that could lead to user interaction required for exploitation. Finally, organizations should review and strengthen input validation and sanitization practices in custom MediaWiki extensions or configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities.