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SemanticMediaWiki reflected XSS via Special:FacetedSearch cstate parameter

Priority MEDIUM 56CWE-79Published · Updated

Key facts

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

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

Summary

SemanticMediaWiki from 4.2.0 before 7.2.1 contains a reflected cross-site scripting flaw (CWE-79) in Special:FacetedSearch. The cstate parameters are not escaped, so HTML can break out of hidden input attributes. An unauthenticated remote attacker can craft a URL that runs script in a victim's browser when the victim opens it. A public exploit is linked in the references.

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

Description from the CNA

SemanticMediaWiki from 4.2.0 before 7.2.1 contains a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to inject HTML via unescaped cstate parameters in Special:FacetedSearch. Attackers can craft URLs with q, a matching crc32 csum or filtered=1, and cstate values that break out of hidden input attributes to execute script in victims' browsers.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00174 6th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed SemanticMediaWiki (SemanticMediaWiki): 7.2.1

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
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 7.2.17.2.1Patch availableCNA
  • SemanticMediaWiki VendorSemanticMediaWiki Affected 4.2.0 to before 7.2.1 Fixed in 7.2.1 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:semantic-mediawiki:semantic_mediawiki:*:*:*:*:*:mediawiki:*:*4.2.0 to before 7.2.1VulnerableSemanticMediaWiki
  • cpe:2.3:a:semantic-mediawiki:semantic_mediawiki:*:*:*:*:*:mediawiki:*:* Versions 4.2.0 to before 7.2.1 Vulnerable ·SemanticMediaWiki

Remediation

Upgrade SemanticMediaWiki to 7.2.1, the version that fixes this flaw.

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

  • Fix · CNA SemanticMediaWiki (SemanticMediaWiki) Fixed in 7.2.1

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-27 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-116891
  2. 2026-10-27 Alias added: GHSA-8x9p-9f27-hxfj
  3. 2026-11-04 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  4. 2026-11-04 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM

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