Description
Semantic MediaWiki from 3.0.0 before 7.3.1 contains an algorithmic complexity vulnerability in TermParser::normalize_compact_form() that allows unauthenticated attackers to cause quadratic CPU consumption. Attackers can submit long search terms with many distinct in:(...) or has:(...) expressions to Special:Search to exhaust PHP search workers when the extended search engine is enabled.
Affected products
semantic-mediawiki: semantic mediawiki
References4
- github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/security/advisor… ExploitVendor AdvisoryMitigation
- github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/security/advisor… ExploitVendor AdvisoryMitigation
- github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/commit/c2bf1699d… Patch
- www.vulncheck.com/advisories/semantic-mediawiki-3.0.0-before-7.… Third Party Advisory
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
7.5
HIGH
Score source: CNA
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 4.0
-
8.7
HIGH
Score source: CNA
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - EPSS — exploit probability
- 0% percentile: 32 · as of 8 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-407
Could this be exploited in your environment?
A patch closes the known hole. A penetration test shows what an attacker can still reach — with proof.