CVE-2021-31548Network attack vector

Unauthorized edits via failed user blocking

Published Apr 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Incorrect authorization in MediaWiki AbuseFilter through 1.35.2 allows remote authenticated users to complete prohibited edits. When a filter attempts to block a partially blocked user or another block attempt fails, AbuseFilter treats the failed block consequence as non-disallowing and permits the edit. Reachability requires an authenticated wiki account in a block state that makes the user-block action fail; the bounded consequence is modification of wiki content that the configured filter intended to reject.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in MediaWiki AbuseFilter through 1.35.2 allows remote authenticated users to complete prohibited edits. When a filter attempts to block a partially blocked user or another block attempt fails, AbuseFilter treats the failed block consequence as non-disallowing and permits the edit. Reachability requires an authenticated wiki account in a block state that makes the user-block action fail; the bounded consequence is modification of wiki content that the configured filter intended to reject.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31548
Published
Apr 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-863, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 22, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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