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Stored cross-site scripting in Semantic MediaWiki FacetedSearch

Priority LOW 21CWE-79Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
High
User interaction
Passive
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
Impact type
Cross-site scripting
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Low · Low · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-79.

Summary

Semantic MediaWiki from 4.2.0 before 7.3.1 contains a stored cross-site scripting flaw (CWE-79) in FacetedSearch exploration-link labels. The label is inserted into HTML without escaping, so markup stored in it alters the Special:FacetedSearch page. An authenticated user with profile or schema editing rights can store the markup and potentially run scripts in viewers' browsers. The references link a public exploit.

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

Description from the CNA

Semantic MediaWiki from 4.2.0 before 7.3.1 contains a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows authenticated profile or schema editors to inject HTML through FacetedSearch exploration-link labels. Attackers can store markup in the label, which ExploreListBuilder::buildHTML() passes unescaped to Html::rawElement(), altering the Special:FacetedSearch page and potentially running scripts in viewers' browsers.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00153 4th 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
None
Automatable
No
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
SemanticMediaWikiSemanticMediaWiki4.2.0 to before 7.3.17.3.1Patch availableCNA
  • SemanticMediaWiki VendorSemanticMediaWiki Affected 4.2.0 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:*:*4.2.0 to before 7.3.1VulnerableSemanticMediaWiki
  • cpe:2.3:a:semantic-mediawiki:semantic_mediawiki:*:*:*:*:*:mediawiki:*:* Versions 4.2.0 to before 7.3.1 Vulnerable ·SemanticMediaWiki

Remediation

Upgrade SemanticMediaWiki to version 7.3.1, which fixes the flaw.

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-2026-81075 Uncontrolled recursion in Semantic MediaWiki via Special:AskPriority HIGH 77

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-27 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-116882
  2. 2026-10-27 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  3. 2026-10-27 Alias added: GHSA-vffw-jhh9-h949

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-2026-81075 Uncontrolled recursion in Semantic MediaWiki via Special:Ask 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
See all 22 →

Sources