Authentication

1. Authentication in MediaWiki

Authentication is a fundamental security process in any web application, and MediaWiki is no exception. It’s the mechanism by which MediaWiki verifies the identity of a user attempting to access the wiki. This article provides a comprehensive overview of authentication in MediaWiki for beginners, covering the various methods, configuration options, and security considerations. We will explore the underlying principles, common authentication methods, and how to manage user accounts and permissions.

What is Authentication?

At its core, authentication is about proving *who* you are. In the physical world, this might involve showing identification like a driver's license. In the digital world, it’s more complex. MediaWiki relies on a variety of methods to verify a user’s claimed identity. It's important to differentiate authentication from authorization, which determines *what* a user is allowed to do *after* they have been authenticated. Authentication answers "Who are you?", while authorization answers "What are you allowed to do?". User rights management handles authorization.

Without robust authentication, anyone could potentially modify wiki content, access sensitive information, or disrupt the operation of the platform. Therefore, a well-configured authentication system is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of your MediaWiki installation.

Common Authentication Methods in MediaWiki

MediaWiki supports a range of authentication methods, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The best choice depends on your specific needs and security requirements.

• Local User Accounts: This is the default method. Users create accounts directly on the wiki by providing a username and password. While simple to set up, it relies on users creating and remembering strong passwords, which can be a vulnerability. Password policies can be implemented to mitigate this risk. The strength of this method heavily relies on implementing policies like requiring complex passwords and enforcing account lockouts after multiple failed login attempts.

• OpenID Connect (OIDC): A modern, widely adopted authentication protocol. OIDC allows users to log in using existing accounts from providers like Google, Facebook, or other identity providers. This simplifies the login process for users and reduces the burden of managing passwords on the wiki itself. OpenID Connect configuration details the specific steps involved in setting this up. It’s a preferred method due to its security and user convenience.

• OAuth 2.0: Similar to OIDC, OAuth 2.0 is an authorization framework that can be used for authentication. It's often used for granting third-party applications access to user data. In MediaWiki, it can be used for single sign-on (SSO) with various services. OAuth 2.0 integration provides guidance on implementation.

• LDAP Authentication: Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a directory service commonly used in organizations to manage user accounts. MediaWiki can be configured to authenticate users against an existing LDAP directory, allowing users to use their existing corporate credentials to access the wiki. LDAP authentication setup is a complex process but centralized user management. This is common in enterprise environments.

• CAS (Central Authentication Service): CAS is another SSO system, often used in academic institutions. MediaWiki can integrate with CAS to allow users to log in using their university credentials. CAS integration offers detailed instructions.

• SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language): SAML is an XML-based standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between security domains. It’s often used in enterprise environments to enable SSO across different applications. SAML configuration is a technically demanding process.

• Pluggable Authentication: MediaWiki’s architecture allows for the development of custom authentication methods through extensions. This provides flexibility to integrate with specialized authentication systems or implement unique authentication requirements. Developing authentication extensions is an advanced topic.

Configuring Authentication in MediaWiki

The primary configuration file for authentication is `LocalSettings.php`. You'll need to modify this file to enable and configure the desired authentication methods. Here's a breakdown of common configuration settings:

• `'$wgAuthTokenExpiration'`: Controls how long authentication tokens are valid. A shorter expiration time increases security but may require users to log in more frequently.

• `'$wgSessionCacheType'`: Specifies the type of cache used for storing session data. Options include 'memcached', 'redis', and 'database'. Using a dedicated cache server like Memcached or Redis is recommended for performance.

• `'$wgPasswordSalt'`: A unique string used to hash passwords. This should be a long, random string. MediaWiki automatically generates this during installation.

• `'$wgSitename'`: The name of your wiki, used in various authentication-related messages.

• For OIDC: Settings related to the OIDC provider's client ID, client secret, authorization endpoint, token endpoint, and user info endpoint need to be configured. Refer to the OpenID Connect configuration page for detailed instructions.

• For LDAP: Settings related to the LDAP server's hostname, port, base DN, and search filters need to be configured. Refer to the LDAP authentication setup page.

• For OAuth: Settings for the OAuth provider's authorization URL, token URL, client ID, and client secret must be set.

Always back up your `LocalSettings.php` file before making any changes. Incorrect configuration can lead to authentication failures or security vulnerabilities. After making changes, clear the MediaWiki cache to ensure the new settings are applied. Cache management explains how to do this.

Security Considerations

Authentication is a critical security component, and it’s important to take appropriate measures to protect your wiki.

• Strong Passwords: Encourage users to create strong passwords that are difficult to guess. Consider implementing a password policy that requires a minimum length and includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Password policies provides detailed guidance.

• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adding a second factor of authentication, such as a one-time code sent to a user's phone, significantly enhances security. MediaWiki supports 2FA through extensions like the Universal Registration extension. This is highly recommended.

• Account Lockout: Implement an account lockout policy to prevent brute-force attacks. This will temporarily disable an account after a certain number of failed login attempts.

• Regular Security Audits: Regularly review your authentication configuration and security practices to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

• Keep MediaWiki Updated: Ensure that your MediaWiki installation is up to date with the latest security patches. MediaWiki security updates details the process.

• HTTPS: Always use HTTPS to encrypt communication between users and the wiki server. This protects sensitive information, such as passwords, from being intercepted. HTTPS configuration explains how to set this up.

• Monitoring: Monitor login attempts and other authentication-related events for suspicious activity. Log analysis is a crucial skill in detecting and responding to security incidents.

• Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting to restrict the number of login attempts from a single IP address within a given timeframe. This can help mitigate brute-force attacks.

• CAPTCHA: Use CAPTCHA to prevent automated bots from creating accounts or attempting to log in. CAPTCHA configuration provides instructions.

• IP Blocking: Block malicious IP addresses that are attempting to compromise the wiki. IP blocking is a vital tool for security administrators.

Managing User Accounts

MediaWiki provides a range of tools for managing user accounts.

• User Creation: Administrators can create new user accounts through the Special:CreateAccount page.

• User Management: Administrators can view, edit, and delete user accounts through the Special:UserList page.

• User Rights: Administrators can assign user rights, such as administrator, bureaucrat, or moderator, to control access to different features and functionalities. User rights management provides detailed information.

• Blocking Users: Administrators can block users who are violating the wiki's policies. User blocking details the process.

• Merging Accounts: Administrators can merge duplicate user accounts. Account merging is important for maintaining data integrity.

• Email Confirmation: MediaWiki can be configured to require users to confirm their email addresses. This helps to prevent the creation of fake accounts.

Troubleshooting Authentication Issues

• Check the Error Logs: The MediaWiki error logs can provide valuable information about authentication failures. Error log analysis provides guidance.

• Verify Configuration Settings: Double-check your authentication configuration settings in `LocalSettings.php` to ensure they are correct.

• Test Authentication: Test the authentication process with a test user account to identify any issues.

• Check Server Logs: Check your web server logs for any errors related to authentication.

• Clear the Cache: Clear the MediaWiki cache to ensure that any changes to the authentication configuration are applied.

• Firewall Issues: Ensure that your firewall isn't blocking communication between the wiki server and the authentication provider.

• DNS Resolution: Verify that the wiki server can resolve the hostname of the authentication provider.

Advanced Topics

• Federated Identity Management: Integrating MediaWiki with a federated identity management system.

• Custom Authentication Extensions: Developing custom authentication methods tailored to specific requirements.

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Integration: Integrating MediaWiki with a SIEM system for real-time security monitoring.

• Behavioral Biometrics: Utilizing behavioral biometrics for enhanced authentication.

• Risk-Based Authentication: Adapting authentication requirements based on user behavior and risk factors.

• Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implementing a WAF to protect against common web attacks, including those targeting authentication systems.

• Regular Expression Denial of Service (ReDoS) Protection: Protecting against ReDoS attacks that can exploit vulnerabilities in authentication processes.

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Prevention: Implementing measures to prevent XSS attacks that can compromise user authentication.

• SQL Injection Prevention: Protecting against SQL injection attacks that can bypass authentication mechanisms.

• Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Protection: Implementing CSRF protection to prevent unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users.

• Zero Trust Architecture: Adopting a Zero Trust architecture for enhanced security.

• Threat Modeling: Conducting threat modeling to identify and mitigate potential authentication vulnerabilities.

• Penetration Testing: Performing penetration testing to assess the security of the authentication system.

• Compliance Standards: Ensuring compliance with relevant security standards and regulations.

• Anomaly Detection: Using anomaly detection techniques to identify suspicious authentication activity.

• Machine Learning for Authentication: Leveraging machine learning to improve authentication accuracy and security.

• Blockchain-Based Authentication: Exploring the use of blockchain technology for decentralized authentication.

• Biometric Authentication: Implementing biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint scanning or facial recognition.

• Passwordless Authentication: Adopting passwordless authentication methods, such as magic links or push notifications.

• Adaptive Authentication: Dynamically adjusting authentication requirements based on user context and risk factors.

• Continuous Authentication: Continuously verifying user identity throughout the session.

• Context-Aware Authentication: Taking into account user location, device, and other contextual factors during authentication.

• Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs): Utilizing DIDs for self-sovereign identity management.

• Verifiable Credentials (VCs): Using VCs to securely share and verify user attributes.

User rights management Password policies OpenID Connect configuration LDAP authentication setup CAS integration SAML configuration Developing authentication extensions Cache management MediaWiki security updates HTTPS configuration Log analysis User blocking Account merging Error log analysis

NIST Cybersecurity Framework OWASP Top Ten CVE Database SANS Institute CERT Coordination Center MITRE ATT&CK Framework Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) Center for Internet Security (CIS) ISO 27001 HIPAA Security Rule PCI DSS GDPR CCPA NIST Special Publication 800-63 NIST Special Publication 800-53 OWASP Authentication Cheat Sheet OWASP Authorization Cheat Sheet SANS Top 20 Security Risks Threatpost Dark Reading SecurityWeek Krebs on Security Troy Hunt Bruce Schneier EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) Digital Defense Fund The Hacker News

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