Security Considerations

1. Security Considerations for MediaWiki Administrators and Users

This article provides a comprehensive overview of security considerations for MediaWiki installations, targeting both administrators and general users. Maintaining a secure MediaWiki instance is crucial to protect sensitive information, prevent data breaches, and ensure the integrity of your wiki. This guide covers a broad range of topics, from basic server hardening to advanced user permissions and extension security.

Introduction

MediaWiki, a powerful and widely-used wiki software, is built on PHP and relies on a database (typically MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL). Like any web application, it is susceptible to security vulnerabilities if not configured and maintained correctly. The security of your wiki is a layered approach, involving server security, MediaWiki configuration, user management, and ongoing monitoring. Ignoring these considerations can lead to various threats, including unauthorized access, data modification, denial-of-service attacks, and malware infections. This article aims to equip you with the knowledge to mitigate these risks.

Server Security

The foundation of MediaWiki security lies in the security of the server hosting it. This encompasses both the operating system and the web server.

• **Operating System Hardening:** Regularly update your operating system (Linux, Windows, etc.) with the latest security patches. Disable unnecessary services and ports. Use a firewall (e.g., `iptables`, `ufw`, Windows Firewall) to restrict access to only essential ports (typically 80 for HTTP and 443 for HTTPS). Consider using a security-focused Linux distribution like Debian or Ubuntu Server, regularly scanned with tools like Lynis.
• **Web Server Configuration:** Configure your web server (Apache, Nginx, IIS) to serve MediaWiki securely.

   *   **HTTPS:**  Enable HTTPS using a valid SSL/TLS certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) like Let's Encrypt.  This encrypts communication between the server and users, preventing eavesdropping.  [1](https://letsencrypt.org/) is a great resource.  Force HTTPS redirection to ensure all traffic is encrypted.
   *   **Disable Directory Listing:** Prevent web server from displaying directory contents.
   *   **Limit File Access:** Configure the web server to only allow access to the MediaWiki directory and its subdirectories.
   *   **PHP Configuration:** Configure PHP to disable potentially dangerous functions (see section below).

• **Database Security:**

   *   **Strong Passwords:** Use strong, unique passwords for the database user account used by MediaWiki.
   *   **Restrict Database Access:**  Grant the MediaWiki database user only the necessary privileges.  Avoid granting root or administrator privileges.
   *   **Remote Access:**  Restrict remote access to the database server.  Ideally, MediaWiki and the database should be on the same server.
   *   **Regular Backups:**  Perform regular database backups to protect against data loss.

PHP Security

PHP powers MediaWiki, and its configuration is critical.

• **Disable Dangerous Functions:** In your `php.ini` file, disable potentially dangerous functions that MediaWiki does not require. Some examples include:

   *   `exec()`
   *   `system()`
   *   `shell_exec()`
   *   `passthru()`
   *   `phpinfo()`
   *   `eval()`
   *   `assert()`

• **`open_basedir` Restriction:** Use the `open_basedir` directive in `php.ini` to restrict PHP's access to only the MediaWiki directory and its subdirectories. This prevents PHP scripts from accessing files outside of the intended area.
• **`upload_max_filesize` and `post_max_size`:** Configure these settings appropriately to limit the size of uploaded files, mitigating potential denial-of-service attacks.
• **Error Reporting:** Disable detailed error reporting in a production environment. Detailed error messages can reveal sensitive information about your system. [2](https://www.php.net/manual/en/errorfunc.configuration.php)
• **PHP Version:** Keep PHP updated to the latest stable version to benefit from security patches. Older versions are more vulnerable to known exploits. [3](https://www.php.net/security)

MediaWiki Configuration

MediaWiki itself has numerous configuration settings that impact security. These are primarily found in `LocalSettings.php`.

• **`$wgSecretKey`:** This is a crucial setting. Generate a strong, random string for `$wgSecretKey`. This key is used for various security features, including session management and password hashing. [4](https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm) provides guidance on generating strong passwords.
• **`$wgSessionCacheType`:** Choose a secure session cache type. `database` is a common option, but consider `memcached` or `redis` for improved performance and scalability.
• **`$wgPasswordSalt`:** Use a strong, random string for `$wgPasswordSalt`. This salt is used when hashing passwords, making them more resistant to cracking.
• **`$wgCookiePrefix`:** Change the default cookie prefix to prevent cookie collisions with other applications on the same domain.
• **`$wgUploadDirectory`:** Ensure the upload directory is not directly accessible via the web server.
• **`$wgEnableEmailConfirmation`:** Enable email confirmation for new user accounts to prevent spam account creation.
• **`$wgSpamRegex`:** Configure a regular expression to filter out spam user accounts.
• **`$wgRateLimits`:** Implement rate limiting to prevent brute-force attacks and other abusive behavior. [5](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ddos/what-is-rate-limiting/)
• **`$wgCaptchaPath`:** Enable CAPTCHA to prevent automated account creation and editing.
• **`$wgDisableEditSections`:** Consider disabling section editing if it's not essential, as it can reduce the attack surface.
• **`$wgRestrictUploads`:** Restrict file uploads to specific file types and sizes.

User Management and Permissions

Proper user management is essential for controlling access to your wiki.

• **Principle of Least Privilege:** Grant users only the minimum necessary permissions to perform their tasks. Avoid granting administrator privileges unnecessarily.
• **User Groups:** Utilize MediaWiki's user group system to manage permissions effectively. Common groups include:

   *   **Administrators:** Full access to all features.
   *   **Bureaucrats:**  Can manage user rights and groups.
   *   **Moderators:**  Can review and approve edits.
   *   **Registered Users:**  Can edit most pages.

• **Account Creation:** Control who can create accounts. Consider requiring email confirmation or administrator approval.
• **Inactive Accounts:** Regularly review and remove inactive accounts. These accounts can be exploited by attackers.
• **Strong Passwords:** Enforce strong password policies for all users.
• **Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):** Implement 2FA for administrator accounts to add an extra layer of security. [6](https://authy.com/) provides 2FA solutions.
• **Account Locking:** Implement mechanisms to lock accounts after multiple failed login attempts.

Extension Security

Extensions can add functionality to your MediaWiki, but they can also introduce security vulnerabilities.

• **Only Install Trusted Extensions:** Only install extensions from reputable sources (e.g., the MediaWiki Extension Directory: Extension:Extension directory).
• **Review Extension Code:** If possible, review the extension's code before installing it to identify potential vulnerabilities.
• **Keep Extensions Updated:** Regularly update extensions to the latest versions to benefit from security patches.
• **Disable Unused Extensions:** Disable any extensions that are not being used.
• **Extension Permissions:** Understand the permissions required by each extension and ensure they are appropriate.
• **Security Audits:** Periodically conduct security audits of installed extensions.

Monitoring and Logging

Regular monitoring and logging are crucial for detecting and responding to security incidents.

• **Web Server Logs:** Analyze web server logs for suspicious activity, such as failed login attempts, unusual requests, and error messages.
• **MediaWiki Logs:** Review MediaWiki's logs (e.g., `RecentChanges`, `Watchlist`, `Log`) for unauthorized edits or other suspicious behavior.
• **Security Auditing Tools:** Use security auditing tools to scan your wiki for vulnerabilities. Examples include:

   *   **OWASP ZAP:** [7](https://www.zaproxy.org/)
   *   **Nessus:** [8](https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus)

• **Intrusion Detection System (IDS):** Consider implementing an IDS to detect and alert you to malicious activity. [9](https://www.snort.org/)
• **Regular Backups:** Maintain regular backups of your wiki, including the database and files. This allows you to restore your wiki in the event of a security breach or data loss. Consider offsite backups for disaster recovery.
• **Security Information and Event Management (SIEM):** For larger deployments, consider a SIEM solution to centralize log management and security monitoring. [10](https://www.splunk.com/)

Common Threats and Mitigation Strategies

• **Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):** Prevent XSS attacks by sanitizing user input and output. MediaWiki has built-in XSS protection, but it's important to be aware of the risk. [11](https://owasp.org/www-project-xss/)
• **SQL Injection:** Protect against SQL injection attacks by using parameterized queries and escaping user input. MediaWiki's database abstraction layer helps prevent SQL injection, but it's still important to be careful. [12](https://owasp.org/www-project-sql-injection/)
• **Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF):** Implement CSRF protection by using CSRF tokens. MediaWiki includes CSRF protection by default. [13](https://owasp.org/www-project-csrf/)
• **Brute-Force Attacks:** Implement rate limiting and account locking to prevent brute-force attacks.
• **Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks:** Use a web application firewall (WAF) and content delivery network (CDN) to mitigate DoS attacks. [14](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ddos/what-is-a-waf/)
• **Malware Uploads:** Restrict file uploads to specific file types and sizes, and scan uploaded files for malware.
• **Phishing:** Educate users about phishing attacks and how to identify them.

Staying Informed

The security landscape is constantly evolving. Stay informed about the latest security threats and vulnerabilities by:

• **MediaWiki Security Announcements:** Subscribe to the MediaWiki security announcements mailing list. [15](https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/mediawiki-announce/)
• **Security Blogs and Newsletters:** Follow security blogs and newsletters.
• **Security Conferences:** Attend security conferences.
• **Vulnerability Databases:** Consult vulnerability databases like the National Vulnerability Database (NVD): [16](https://nvd.nist.gov/) and CVE Details: [17](https://www.cvedetails.com/)
• **OWASP:** Stay up-to-date with the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP): [18](https://owasp.org/)

Resources

• **MediaWiki Security Documentation:** Manual:Security
• **MediaWiki Extension Directory:** Extension:Extension directory
• **PHP Security:** [19](https://www.php.net/security)
• **OWASP:** [20](https://owasp.org/)
• **SANS Institute:** [21](https://www.sans.org/)
• **NIST Cybersecurity Framework:** [22](https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework)
• **CIS Benchmarks:** [23](https://www.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/)
• **Threat Intelligence Reports:** [24](https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog) (Mandiant), [25](https://securityintelligence.com/) (IBM X-Force)
• **Security Focus:** [26](https://www.securityfocus.com/)
• **Dark Reading:** [27](https://www.darkreading.com/)
• **Krebs on Security:** [28](https://krebsonsecurity.com/)
• **MITRE ATT&CK Framework:** [29](https://attack.mitre.org/)
• **Digital Shadows:** [30](https://www.digitalshadows.com/)
• **Recorded Future:** [31](https://www.recordedfuture.com/)
• **AlienVault OTX:** [32](https://otx.alienvault.com/)
• **VirusTotal:** [33](https://www.virustotal.com/)
• **Shodan:** [34](https://www.shodan.io/)
• **Censys:** [35](https://censys.io/)
• **Have I Been Pwned?:** [36](https://haveibeenpwned.com/)
• **SecurityTrails:** [37](https://securitytrails.com/)
• **GreyNoise:** [38](https://greynoise.io/)
• **abuse.ch:** [39](https://abuse.ch/)
• **MalwareBazaar:** [40](https://mbazaar.abuse.ch/)

Start Trading Now

Sign up at IQ Option (Minimum deposit $10) Open an account at Pocket Option (Minimum deposit $5)

Join Our Community

Subscribe to our Telegram channel @strategybin to receive: ✓ Daily trading signals ✓ Exclusive strategy analysis ✓ Market trend alerts ✓ Educational materials for beginners