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Uncontrolled recursion in Semantic MediaWiki via Special:Ask

Priority HIGH 77CWE-674Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-674.

Summary

Semantic MediaWiki from 3.0.0 before 7.3.1 contains uncontrolled recursion (CWE-674) in LegacyParser::getSubqueryDescription(), which processes nested query tokens before depth limits apply. An unauthenticated remote attacker can submit deeply nested query elements to the action=ask API, consuming substantial CPU and memory and tying up request workers. A public proof-of-concept exploit is linked in the references.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-04

Description from the CNA

Semantic MediaWiki 3.0.0 before 7.3.1 contains an uncontrolled recursion vulnerability in LegacyParser::getSubqueryDescription() that processes nested query tokens before depth limits apply. Unauthenticated attackers can submit deeply nested query elements to the action=ask API to consume substantial CPU and memory, tying up request workers.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00387 32nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed SemanticMediaWiki (SemanticMediaWiki): 7.3.1

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
SemanticMediaWikiSemanticMediaWiki3.0.0 to before 7.3.17.3.1Patch availableCNA
  • SemanticMediaWiki VendorSemanticMediaWiki Affected 3.0.0 to before 7.3.1 Fixed in 7.3.1 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:semantic-mediawiki:semantic_mediawiki:*:*:*:*:*:mediawiki:*:*3.0.0 to before 7.3.1VulnerableSemanticMediaWiki
  • cpe:2.3:a:semantic-mediawiki:semantic_mediawiki:*:*:*:*:*:mediawiki:*:* Versions 3.0.0 to before 7.3.1 Vulnerable ·SemanticMediaWiki

Remediation

Upgrade SemanticMediaWiki to version 7.3.1 or later.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-04

  • Fix · CNA SemanticMediaWiki (SemanticMediaWiki) Fixed in 7.3.1

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Release ·

    SemanticMediaWiki 7.3.1

    20 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 4 HIGH, 13 MEDIUM, 3 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2026-81081 Resource exhaustion in Semantic MediaWiki via #set_recurring_eventPriority HIGH 77
    • TI-2026-81076 Semantic MediaWiki search lets attackers exhaust CPU via long termsPriority HIGH 77
    • TI-2026-81077 Missing authorization in Semantic MediaWiki smwtask APIPriority HIGH 70

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-27 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-116871
  2. 2026-10-27 Alias added: GHSA-p6m4-5726-45x8
  3. 2026-10-28 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
  4. 2026-11-04 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  5. 2026-11-04 Priority changed: LOW → HIGH

References

  • TI-2026-81081 Resource exhaustion in Semantic MediaWiki via #set_recurring_event CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-81076 Semantic MediaWiki search lets attackers exhaust CPU via long terms CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-81077 Missing authorization in Semantic MediaWiki smwtask API CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
  • TI-2026-81084 Cross-site request forgery in Semantic MediaWiki SMWAdmin page CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
  • TI-2026-81083 Missing authorization in Semantic MediaWiki smwtask update task CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
  • TI-2026-81080 Missing authorization in Semantic MediaWiki lets editors lock pages CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
See all 22 →

Sources