Security best practices

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  1. Security Best Practices for MediaWiki

This article provides a comprehensive overview of security best practices for MediaWiki installations, aimed at administrators and users with varying levels of technical expertise. Protecting your MediaWiki instance is crucial, as it often contains valuable information and is a potential target for malicious actors. We will cover a wide range of topics, from basic server hardening to advanced configuration options and ongoing maintenance. This guide is written for MediaWiki 1.40, but many principles apply to earlier and later versions.

Understanding the Threat Landscape

Before diving into specific practices, it's important to understand the common threats faced by MediaWiki installations. These include:

  • **Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):** Attackers inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This can lead to account hijacking, data theft, and website defacement.
  • **SQL Injection:** Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in database queries to gain unauthorized access to or modify database data.
  • **Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF):** Attackers trick users into performing actions they did not intend to, such as changing their password or making unwanted edits.
  • **Brute-Force Attacks:** Attackers repeatedly try different username and password combinations to gain access to accounts.
  • **File Upload Vulnerabilities:** Attackers upload malicious files (e.g., PHP scripts) that can compromise the server.
  • **Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks:** Attackers flood the server with traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users.
  • **Plugin/Extension Vulnerabilities:** Third-party extensions can introduce security vulnerabilities if they are poorly coded or not regularly updated.
  • **Configuration Errors:** Incorrectly configured MediaWiki settings can create security loopholes.
  • **Social Engineering:** Attackers manipulate users into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security.

Understanding these threats helps prioritize security measures. Resources like the OWASP Top Ten ([1](https://owasp.org/Top10/)) provide an excellent overview of common web application vulnerabilities. The SANS Institute ([2](https://www.sans.org/)) offers extensive security training and resources.

Server Hardening

The foundation of MediaWiki security lies in a securely configured server.

  • **Operating System Security:** Keep your operating system (Linux, Windows Server, etc.) up to date with the latest security patches. Use a firewall (e.g., `iptables`, `ufw`, Windows Firewall) to restrict access to only necessary ports. Consider using a security-focused Linux distribution like SELinux ([3](https://www.selinuxproject.org/)) or AppArmor ([4](https://apparmor.net/)).
  • **Web Server Configuration:**
   *   **Apache:** Disable unnecessary modules. Configure `.htaccess` files carefully.  Use `mod_security` ([5](https://modsecurity.org/)) to provide a web application firewall. Securely configure virtual hosts.
   *   **Nginx:**  Disable unnecessary modules. Configure proper access control.  Implement rate limiting to mitigate DoS attacks.  Use `ngx_http_ssl_module` for HTTPS.
  • **PHP Security:**
   *   **Disable dangerous functions:**  In `php.ini`, disable functions like `exec()`, `system()`, `passthru()`, `shell_exec()`, `eval()`, and `create_function()`.
   *   **Restrict file uploads:** Limit the types of files that can be uploaded and store them outside the web root.
   *   **Use a secure PHP version:** Ensure you are using a supported PHP version with active security updates. PHP 8.2 and above are recommended. ([6](https://www.php.net/))
   *   **Configure `open_basedir`:** Restrict PHP's access to specific directories.
   *   **Error Reporting:**  Disable detailed error reporting in production environments to prevent revealing sensitive information.
  • **Database Security:**
   *   **Strong Passwords:** Use strong, unique passwords for the database user account.
   *   **Restrict Database Access:**  Grant the database user only the necessary privileges.
   *   **Regular Backups:**  Perform regular database backups.
   *   **Firewall:** Protect database server with a firewall.
   *   **Database Hardening:** Follow database-specific security guidelines (e.g., MySQL Hardening ([7](https://www.mysql.com/))).

MediaWiki Configuration

Proper configuration of MediaWiki itself is paramount.

  • **`LocalSettings.php` Security:**
   *   **`$wgSecretKey`:**  This is crucial for CSRF protection.  Keep it long, random, and secret.  Change it if compromised.
   *   **`$wgSessionSecret`:**  Used for session management.  Also needs to be long, random, and secret.
   *   **`$wgCookiePrefix`:**  Change the default cookie prefix to prevent cookie poisoning.
   *   **`$wgUploadDirectory`:**  Store uploaded files outside the web root.
   *   **`$wgUploadPath`:**  The URL to access uploaded files.  Ensure it's correctly configured.
   *   **`$wgScriptPath`:**  Set this correctly to prevent path traversal attacks.
   *   **`$wgMainCacheType`:**  Use a caching mechanism (e.g., Memcached, Redis) to reduce database load and improve performance. ([8](https://memcached.org/), [9](https://redis.io/))
  • **Account Security:**
   *   **Strong Password Policy:**  Enforce strong passwords for all users. Use the `PasswordPolicy` extension ([10](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:PasswordPolicy)).
   *   **Account Creation Restrictions:**  Restrict account creation to prevent spam and bot accounts. Consider requiring email verification.
   *   **Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):**  Implement 2FA for administrators and other sensitive accounts.  Use the `TwoFactorAuthentication` extension ([11](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:TwoFactorAuthentication)).
   *   **Regularly Review User Accounts:**  Identify and remove inactive or suspicious accounts.
  • **Permissions and Access Control:**
   *   **Group Permissions:**  Use groups to manage user permissions effectively.
   *   **Restrict Administrator Access:**  Limit the number of administrators.
   *   **`$wgGroupPermissions`:** Carefully configure group permissions in `LocalSettings.php`.

Extension Security

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

  • **Only Install Trusted Extensions:** Install extensions only from reputable sources, such as the MediaWiki Extension Directory ([16](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension_directory)).
  • **Keep Extensions Up to Date:** Regularly update extensions to the latest versions to patch security vulnerabilities.
  • **Review Extension Code:** If possible, review the extension code before installing it to identify potential security flaws.
  • **Disable Unused Extensions:** Disable any extensions that are not actively used.
  • **Consider Security Audits:** For critical extensions, consider a professional security audit. Companies like Veracode ([17](https://www.veracode.com/)) and Snyk ([18](https://snyk.io/)) offer application security testing services.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Security is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.

  • **Regularly Review Logs:** Monitor MediaWiki logs for suspicious activity. Pay attention to failed login attempts, unusual edits, and error messages.
  • **Security Audits:** Perform regular security audits of your MediaWiki installation. Tools like Nikto ([19](https://cirt.net/Nikto2)) and OpenVAS ([20](https://www.openvas.org/)) can help identify vulnerabilities.
  • **Vulnerability Scanning:** Use a vulnerability scanner to identify potential weaknesses in your system.
  • **Backups:** Perform regular backups of your MediaWiki files and database. Test your backups to ensure they can be restored.
  • **Incident Response Plan:** Develop an incident response plan to handle security breaches effectively.
  • **Stay Informed:** Keep up to date with the latest security threats and best practices. Subscribe to security mailing lists and blogs. The National Vulnerability Database ([21](https://nvd.nist.gov/)) is a valuable resource.
  • **Penetration Testing:** Consider engaging a security professional to conduct penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities that may have been overlooked.
  • **Web Application Firewall (WAF):** Implement a WAF to protect against common web attacks. Cloudflare ([22](https://www.cloudflare.com/)) and Sucuri ([23](https://sucuri.net/)) are popular WAF providers.

Specific MediaWiki Security Extensions

Resources for Staying Informed

By implementing these security best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of compromise and protect your MediaWiki installation and its valuable data. Remember to regularly review and update your security measures to stay ahead of evolving threats. Analyzing threat intelligence feeds ([38](https://www.recordedfuture.com/), [39](https://www.crowdstrike.com/)) can help you proactively address emerging risks. Understanding attack vectors ([40](https://attack.mitre.org/)) is also crucial for effective defense.

Security MediaWiki PHP Apache Nginx Database security Extension security Firewall HTTPS Backups

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