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CVE Record

CVE-2021-36132: An issue was discovered in the FileImporter extension in MediaWiki through 1.36.

An issue was discovered in the FileImporter extension in MediaWiki through 1.36. For certain relaxed configurations of the $wgFileImporterRequiredRight variable, it might not validate all appropriate user rights, thus allowing a user with insufficient rights to perform operations (specifically file uploads) that they should not be allowed to perform.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-36132 is an authorization flaw in MediaWiki's FileImporter extension through version 1.36. In some relaxed rights configurations, users may be allowed to upload/import files even when they lack the intended permissions. The main business risk is unauthorized content entering a wiki, especially on public or multi-user sites.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted configuration and access-control review, not an internet-wide emergency based on the supplied evidence. Prioritize public, partner-facing, or multi-editor wikis where unauthorized uploads could create reputational, malware, or content-integrity risk.

Technical view

The issue concerns incomplete validation of user rights when $wgFileImporterRequiredRight is configured permissively. The described impact is insufficiently privileged users performing operations, specifically file uploads, that should be blocked. The bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, affected CPEs, exploit details, or a named fixed version.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on MediaWiki deployments through 1.36 that enable FileImporter and use relaxed $wgFileImporterRequiredRight settings. Sites without FileImporter, without file import/upload workflows, or with tightly restricted upload rights are less likely exposed based on the provided evidence.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show known active exploitation, and KEV is false. The vulnerability appears configuration-dependent, requiring a deployment where FileImporter is enabled and rights checks are relaxed enough to trigger the authorization gap.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Wikimedia references. The key research focus is reproducing the rights-validation gap under relaxed $wgFileImporterRequiredRight configurations and determining the vendor-corrected behavior from the linked Wikimedia materials.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Wikimedia and MediaWiki FileImporter guidance for the applicable fixed version or patch.
  • Review $wgFileImporterRequiredRight and restore least-privilege upload/import permissions.
  • Restrict file upload/import capabilities to trusted roles until remediation is confirmed.
  • Audit recent file imports/uploads for unexpected users or suspicious content.
  • Confirm FileImporter is disabled where the feature is not operationally required.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory MediaWiki versions and identify deployments through 1.36.
  • Confirm whether the FileImporter extension is installed and enabled.
  • Review $wgFileImporterRequiredRight for relaxed or nonstandard values.
  • Test permissions with a low-privilege account in a controlled environment.
  • Review upload/import logs for users lacking intended upload rights.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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