Security Audits

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  1. Security Audits

Introduction

A security audit is a systematic assessment of a system's security, designed to identify vulnerabilities, threats, and weaknesses. In the context of a MediaWiki installation – be it a small wiki for a personal project or a large, publicly-accessible knowledge base – security audits are *crucial*. They are not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing process, vital for protecting sensitive data, maintaining the integrity of your content, and ensuring the availability of your wiki. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of security audits for MediaWiki, geared towards beginners, covering the rationale, types of audits, key areas to examine, tools, and ongoing maintenance. Ignoring security can lead to data breaches, defacement, denial-of-service attacks, and a loss of trust from your user base.

Why are Security Audits Important for MediaWiki?

MediaWiki, due to its popularity and open-source nature, is a frequent target for attackers. Several factors contribute to this:

  • **Publicly Accessible:** Many MediaWikis are publicly accessible, making them visible to potential attackers.
  • **Complex Codebase:** The MediaWiki codebase is large and complex, meaning vulnerabilities can be hidden and difficult to detect.
  • **Extension Ecosystem:** The extensive extension ecosystem, while powerful, introduces potential security risks if extensions are poorly coded or not regularly updated. Extensions can be a major source of vulnerabilities.
  • **User-Generated Content:** Wikis rely heavily on user-generated content, which can be exploited to inject malicious code (e.g., cross-site scripting - XSS).
  • **Database Sensitivity:** Wikis often store sensitive information, such as user accounts, email addresses, and potentially confidential knowledge.
  • **Default Configurations:** Often, MediaWiki installations are deployed with default configurations that are not secure.

A security audit helps mitigate these risks by proactively identifying and addressing weaknesses *before* they can be exploited. It's a preventative measure, far more cost-effective than dealing with the aftermath of a successful attack. Consider the potential damage: loss of data, reputational damage, legal liabilities, and the cost of remediation.

Types of Security Audits

Security audits can be broadly categorized into several types:

  • **Network Audits:** These examine the network infrastructure surrounding your MediaWiki server. This includes firewall configurations, intrusion detection systems, and network segmentation. A weak network perimeter can compromise the entire wiki. Network security is a fundamental element.
  • **System Audits:** These focus on the operating system running the MediaWiki server. This includes checking for patched vulnerabilities, strong password policies, and secure configurations. Operating system vulnerabilities are frequently exploited.
  • **Application Audits:** This is the most relevant type for MediaWiki itself. It examines the MediaWiki code, configuration, extensions, and user permissions for vulnerabilities. This type of audit requires a deep understanding of MediaWiki's architecture.
  • **Database Audits:** These focus on the security of the underlying database (typically MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL). This includes checking user permissions, data encryption, and backup procedures. Database security is paramount.
  • **Web Application Firewall (WAF) Audits:** If you're using a WAF, this type of audit ensures it's properly configured and effectively blocking malicious traffic.
  • **Penetration Testing (Pen Testing):** A more aggressive form of audit where ethical hackers attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in your system. Pen testing simulates real-world attacks. See resources like [OWASP Testing Guide](https://owasp.org/www-project-testing-guide/).
  • **Vulnerability Scanning:** Uses automated tools to identify known vulnerabilities in your system. While useful, it’s not a substitute for a manual audit. Tools like [Nessus](https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus) and [OpenVAS](https://www.openvas.org/) are common.
  • **Code Review:** A manual examination of the MediaWiki core code and any installed extensions to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Ideally, a comprehensive security audit will incorporate elements from multiple types.

Key Areas to Examine in a MediaWiki Security Audit

Here's a detailed breakdown of the areas you should focus on during a MediaWiki security audit:

1. **MediaWiki Core Security:** 

   *   **Version:** Ensure you are running the latest stable version of MediaWiki.  Older versions often contain known vulnerabilities. Check [MediaWiki Releases](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Release_notes).
   *   **Configuration File (LocalSettings.php):** This file contains sensitive configuration information. Protect it with appropriate file permissions (typically 600 or 400).  Never store passwords directly in this file.  Utilize secure environment variables instead.
   *   **$wgSecretKey:** This key is used for cryptographic operations.  Ensure it is a strong, randomly generated string and kept secret.
   *   **$wgUploadDirectory:**  Secure the upload directory to prevent malicious file uploads.  Configure appropriate file type restrictions and scan uploaded files for malware.
   *   **$wgCookiePrefix:** Use a unique cookie prefix to prevent cookie hijacking.
   *   **$wgSessionPublic:**  Set this to false to prevent session fixation attacks.
   *   **$wgDisableAtomicWrites:**  Enable atomic writes (default) for data integrity.
   *   **$wgRateLimits:** Configure rate limits to mitigate brute-force attacks and spam. See [MediaWiki Rate Limits](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:$wgRateLimits).

2. **Extension Security:** 

   *   **Update Regularly:** Keep all extensions updated to the latest versions. Outdated extensions are a major security risk.
   *   **Source Code Review:** If possible, review the source code of extensions before installing them. Look for potential vulnerabilities.
   *   **Reputable Sources:** Only install extensions from trusted sources, such as the official MediaWiki Extension Directory: [MediaWiki Extensions](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension_directory).
   *   **Minimalism:** Only install extensions that are absolutely necessary.  Each extension adds to the attack surface.
   *   **Permissions:**  Review the permissions required by each extension and ensure they are appropriate.

3. **User Account Security:** 

   *   **Strong Passwords:** Enforce strong password policies (minimum length, complexity).
   *   **Account Creation:**  Control who can create accounts. Consider requiring email verification or administrator approval.
   *   **User Rights:**  Carefully manage user rights. Grant only the necessary permissions to each user.  Follow the principle of least privilege.  User rights management is key.
   *   **Inactive Accounts:**  Periodically review and disable inactive accounts.
   *   **Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):** Implement 2FA for increased security.  See [OATH for MediaWiki](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:OATH).

4. **Database Security:** 

   *   **Strong Database Password:** Use a strong password for the database user account.
   *   **Limited Database Privileges:**  Grant the MediaWiki database user account only the necessary privileges.
   *   **Remote Access:**  Restrict remote access to the database server.
   *   **Database Backups:**  Regularly back up the database and store backups securely.

5. **Server Security:** 

   *   **Firewall:**  Configure a firewall to restrict access to the MediaWiki server.
   *   **Operating System Updates:**  Keep the operating system updated with the latest security patches.
   *   **Secure Shell (SSH):**  Use SSH for remote administration and disable password authentication in favor of key-based authentication.
   *   **Web Server Configuration:**  Secure the web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx) configuration.  Disable unnecessary modules and hide the server version. See [Apache Security Tips](https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/security.html).
   *   **HTTPS:**  Enable HTTPS to encrypt communication between the client and the server.  Use a valid SSL/TLS certificate.  [Let's Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/) provides free SSL/TLS certificates.

6. **Input Validation and Output Encoding:** 

   *   **Prevent XSS:**  Properly validate and encode all user input to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.  MediaWiki has built-in XSS protection, but it's important to be aware of the issue.  See [OWASP XSS Prevention Cheat Sheet](https://owasp.org/www-project-xss-prevention-cheat-sheet/).
   *   **Prevent SQL Injection:**  Use parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks.
   *   **Prevent CSRF:**  Implement Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection.

7. **Logging and Monitoring:** 

   * **Enable Logging:** Enable comprehensive logging to track user activity and potential security incidents.
   * **Monitor Logs:** Regularly monitor logs for suspicious activity.
   * **Intrusion Detection System (IDS):** Consider using an IDS to detect and alert you to potential attacks.


Tools for Security Audits

  • **Nikto:** A web server scanner that identifies potential vulnerabilities: [Nikto](https://cirt.net/Nikto2).
  • **OWASP ZAP:** A free and open-source web application security scanner: [OWASP ZAP](https://www.zaproxy.org/).
  • **Nmap:** A network scanner used to discover hosts and services on a network: [Nmap](https://nmap.org/).
  • **Lynis:** A security auditing tool for Linux systems: [Lynis](https://cisofy.com/lynis/).
  • **MediaWiki's own maintenance scripts:** Scripts like `maintenance/checkExtensions.php` can help identify potential issues with extensions.

Ongoing Security Maintenance

Security is not a one-time fix. It requires ongoing maintenance:

  • **Regular Updates:** Keep MediaWiki, extensions, and the operating system updated.
  • **Security Monitoring:** Continuously monitor logs for suspicious activity.
  • **Vulnerability Scanning:** Perform regular vulnerability scans.
  • **Penetration Testing:** Consider periodic penetration testing.
  • **Security Awareness Training:** Educate users about security best practices.
  • **Incident Response Plan:** Develop an incident response plan to handle security breaches. [SANS Institute](https://www.sans.org/) provides excellent resources on incident response.

Resources and Further Reading

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