Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-CX86-7XWP-W9WF

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-18 16:58 – Updated: 2026-09-18 16:58

Summary

Semantic MediaWiki affected by reflected XSS in `Special:Ask` via a forged cursor pagination token

Details

Reflected XSS via a forged cursor pagination token

Failure mode

Special:Ask accepts a cursor query parameter for keyset pagination (added in 7.0.0). The token is decoded by CursorEncoder, which is an unsigned base64url-encoded JSON blob, so its contents are fully attacker-controlled. When the cursor's sort anchor does not match the request's sort= / order=, QueryCreator::applyCursorIfRequested() builds an error message by interpolating the attacker-controlled sort_prop / sort_order values into a raw string via Query::addErrors().

Unlike SMW's message-key errors, this raw string bypasses the message layer's sanitisation (ProcessingErrorMsgHandler::normalizeAndDecodeMessages() passes a non-key, non-encoded string through unchanged). ErrorWidget::queryError() then assembles the errors and passes them to Html::errorBox(), whose first argument is emitted as raw HTML. The result is a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability: a crafted cursor token containing markup in sort_prop (or sort_order) executes script in the victim's browser on the wiki origin.

No authentication or special permission is required. The payload is delivered via a crafted link, e.g. Special:Ask?q=...&p[cursor]=<forged token> where the token decodes to {"v":1,"sort_prop":"<script>...</script>"}. Confirmed executing in a browser; the responses carry no Content-Security-Policy, so inline script is not blocked.

Remediation

Output-encode the attacker-controlled sort_prop / sort_order values before they are interpolated into the error text in QueryCreator, so no raw user input enters the error stream.
Defense in depth: the format=debug output path that reflected the same error text was hardened separately in GHSA-q5fm-9mx6-44f4.

Maintenance note

Query error strings are rendered as raw HTML by ErrorWidget::queryError() via Html::errorBox(). Any error added through Query::addErrors() that embeds user-controlled text must be output-encoded (or use a message key); pagination and validation error text is attacker-influenced and must not be treated as trusted.

Severity

6.1 (Medium)


                  
                    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Show details on source website

JSON

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{
  "affected": [
    {
      "database_specific": {
        "last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 7.1.0"
      },
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Packagist",
        "name": "mediawiki/semantic-media-wiki"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "7.0.0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "7.2.0"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-77616"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-79"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-09-18T16:58:50Z",
    "nvd_published_at": null,
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "## Reflected XSS via a forged cursor pagination token\n\n#### Failure mode\n\n`Special:Ask` accepts a `cursor` query parameter for keyset pagination (added in 7.0.0). The token is decoded by `CursorEncoder`, which is an **unsigned** base64url-encoded JSON blob, so its contents are fully attacker-controlled. When the cursor\u0027s sort anchor does not match the request\u0027s `sort=` / `order=`, `QueryCreator::applyCursorIfRequested()` builds an error message by interpolating the attacker-controlled `sort_prop` / `sort_order` values into a raw string via `Query::addErrors()`.\n\nUnlike SMW\u0027s message-key errors, this raw string bypasses the message layer\u0027s sanitisation (`ProcessingErrorMsgHandler::normalizeAndDecodeMessages()` passes a non-key, non-encoded string through unchanged). `ErrorWidget::queryError()` then assembles the errors and passes them to `Html::errorBox()`, whose first argument is emitted as raw HTML. The result is a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability: a crafted `cursor` token containing markup in `sort_prop` (or `sort_order`) executes script in the victim\u0027s browser on the wiki origin.\n\nNo authentication or special permission is required. The payload is delivered via a crafted link, e.g. `Special:Ask?q=...\u0026p[cursor]=\u003cforged token\u003e` where the token decodes to `{\"v\":1,\"sort_prop\":\"\u003cscript\u003e...\u003c/script\u003e\"}`. Confirmed executing in a browser; the responses carry no Content-Security-Policy, so inline script is not blocked.\n\n#### Remediation\n\n- Output-encode the attacker-controlled `sort_prop` / `sort_order` values before they are interpolated into the error text in `QueryCreator`, so no raw user input enters the error stream.\n- Defense in depth: the `format=debug` output path that reflected the same error text was hardened separately in GHSA-q5fm-9mx6-44f4.\n\n#### Maintenance note\n\nQuery error strings are rendered as raw HTML by `ErrorWidget::queryError()` via `Html::errorBox()`. Any error added through `Query::addErrors()` that embeds user-controlled text must be output-encoded (or use a message key); pagination and validation error text is attacker-influenced and must not be treated as trusted.",
  "id": "GHSA-cx86-7xwp-w9wf",
  "modified": "2026-09-18T16:58:50Z",
  "published": "2026-09-18T16:58:50Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/security/advisories/GHSA-cx86-7xwp-w9wf"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/releases/tag/7.2.0"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Semantic MediaWiki affected by reflected XSS in `Special:Ask` via a forged cursor pagination token"
}

CVE-2026-77616 (GCVE-0-2026-77616)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-09-18 16:58 – Updated: 2026-09-18 17:22

Title

Semantic MediaWiki affected by reflected XSS in `Special:Ask` via a forged cursor pagination token

Summary

Semantic MediaWiki is a free, open-source extension to MediaWiki that lets users store and query data within the wiki's pages. In versions 7.0.0 through 7.1.0, `Special:Ask` accepts a `cursor` query parameter for keyset pagination (added in 7.0.0). The token is decoded by `CursorEncoder`, which is an **unsigned** base64url-encoded JSON blob, so its contents are fully attacker-controlled. When the cursor's sort anchor does not match the request's `sort=` / `order=`, `QueryCreator::applyCursorIfRequested()` builds an error message by interpolating the attacker-controlled `sort_prop` / `sort_order` values into a raw string via `Query::addErrors()`. Unlike SMW's message-key errors, this raw string bypasses the message layer's sanitization (`ProcessingErrorMsgHandler::normalizeAndDecodeMessages()` passes a non-key, non-encoded string through unchanged). `ErrorWidget::queryError()` then assembles the errors and passes them to `Html::errorBox()`, whose first argument is emitted as raw HTML. The result is a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability: a crafted `cursor` token containing markup in `sort_prop` (or `sort_order`) executes script in the victim's browser on the wiki origin. No authentication or special permission is required. The payload is delivered via a crafted link. Version 7.2.0 contains a fix.

Severity

6.1 (Medium)


                        
                          CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

SSVC

Exploitation: none Automatable: no Technical Impact: partial

CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)

Decision recorded 2026-09-18 17:22 UTC

CWE

CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

Assigner

GitHub_M mitre root

References

2 references

URL	Tags
https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMedi…	x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMedi…	x_refsource_MISC

Impacted products

1 product

Vendor	Product	Version
SemanticMediaWiki	SemanticMediaWiki	Affected: >= 7.0.0, < 7.2.0

Show details on NVD website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-77616",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-09-18T17:22:25.899599Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-09-18T17:22:50.475Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "SemanticMediaWiki",
          "vendor": "SemanticMediaWiki",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003e= 7.0.0, \u003c 7.2.0"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Semantic MediaWiki is a free, open-source extension to MediaWiki that lets users store and query data within the wiki\u0027s pages. In versions 7.0.0 through 7.1.0, `Special:Ask` accepts a `cursor` query parameter for keyset pagination (added in 7.0.0). The token is decoded by `CursorEncoder`, which is an **unsigned** base64url-encoded JSON blob, so its contents are fully attacker-controlled. When the cursor\u0027s sort anchor does not match the request\u0027s `sort=` / `order=`, `QueryCreator::applyCursorIfRequested()` builds an error message by interpolating the attacker-controlled `sort_prop` / `sort_order` values into a raw string via `Query::addErrors()`. Unlike SMW\u0027s message-key errors, this raw string bypasses the message layer\u0027s sanitization (`ProcessingErrorMsgHandler::normalizeAndDecodeMessages()` passes a non-key, non-encoded string through unchanged). `ErrorWidget::queryError()` then assembles the errors and passes them to `Html::errorBox()`, whose first argument is emitted as raw HTML. The result is a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability: a crafted `cursor` token containing markup in `sort_prop` (or `sort_order`) executes script in the victim\u0027s browser on the wiki origin. No authentication or special permission is required. The payload is delivered via a crafted link. Version 7.2.0 contains a fix."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackVector": "NETWORK",
            "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "baseScore": 6.1,
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "confidentialityImpact": "LOW",
            "integrityImpact": "LOW",
            "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
            "scope": "CHANGED",
            "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N",
            "version": "3.1"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-79",
              "description": "CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (\u0027Cross-site Scripting\u0027)",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-09-18T16:58:47.062Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/security/advisories/GHSA-cx86-7xwp-w9wf",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/security/advisories/GHSA-cx86-7xwp-w9wf"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/releases/tag/7.2.0",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/releases/tag/7.2.0"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-cx86-7xwp-w9wf",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "Semantic MediaWiki affected by reflected XSS in `Special:Ask` via a forged cursor pagination token"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-77616",
    "datePublished": "2026-09-18T16:58:47.062Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-08-20T20:52:01.926Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-09-18T17:22:50.475Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.

Related by attack behaviour

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