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🛡️ CVE-2023-3550 — debian-linux

🔴 CVSS 9.5 — Critical ⚠️ Exploit Public CWE-79 NVD
9.5
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

Stored XSS leads to privilege escalation in MediaWiki v1.40.0

Mediawiki v1.40.0 does not validate namespaces used in XML files.

Therefore, if the instance administrator allows XML file uploads,

a remote attacker with a low-privileged user account can use this

exploit to become an administrator by sending a malicious link to

the instance administrator.

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. A user must be tricked into taking some action. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability none.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

  • Attack vector: Network — reachable from anywhere that can route to the service.
  • Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
  • Privileges required: Low — an ordinary user account is enough.
  • User interaction: Required — someone has to click, open or visit something.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
  • Integrity impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
  • Availability impact: None.

Weakness class

CVE-2023-3550 is classified as CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting (XSS). User-supplied data is written into a page without escaping, so attacker script runs in the browser of anyone who views it.

Affected software

CVE-2023-3550 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • debian-linux
  • mediawiki

Timeline and source

Published on 25 September 2023 and last revised on 17 June 2026. A public exploit is known to exist, which raises the urgency of patching considerably. Record sourced from NVD.

References

fluidattacks.com
lists.debian.org
lists.fedoraproject.org
www.debian.org
www.mediawiki.org
fluidattacks.com
lists.debian.org
lists.fedoraproject.org
www.debian.org
www.mediawiki.org

Other advisories for this package

debian-linux has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

Same weakness in other software

These advisories are the same class of weakness (CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting (XSS)) in other software:

CVE-2023-3550 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity HIGH
CVSS Score 9.5
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CWE CWE-79
Public Exploit ⚠️ Yes
Source NVD
Published 2023-09-25
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-06-17
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
debian-linux — —
mediawiki — —

References

Exploit, Third Party Advisory https://fluidattacks.com/advisories/blondie/
Exploit, Third Party Advisory https://fluidattacks.com/advisories/blondie/

Similar Threats

Exploit Protection

Are you running debian-linux?

CVE-2023-3550 carries CVSS 9.5 Critical rating and a public exploit already exists. BotEraser checks your installation against this and other known CVE records, and blocks IPs associated with exploit activity.

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ⓘ Data Notice: The information presented above has been compiled from publicly available internet sources. Boteraser aggregates this data solely for informational purposes and does not independently classify, evaluate, or endorse any findings about the vulnerabilities listed. The accuracy and completeness of this information is the sole responsibility of the original publishers. Boteraser and its operators accept no liability for any decisions made based on this data.

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