# CVE-2026-116876: Semantic MediaWiki improper authorization in page protection

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116876-semantic-mediawiki-from-2-5-0-before-7-3-1-contains-an-improper  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-27. Updated: 2026-10-27  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-116876 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.1 · Published 2026-10-27

Semantic MediaWiki is a plugin for MediaWiki that enables structured data in wiki pages. Ordinary editors can exploit a missing authorization check to permanently lock pages using the "Is edit protected" annotation, preventing other editors and administrators from accessing content. This requires the optional edit-protection feature to be enabled on the wiki.

Technologies: [Semantic MediaWiki](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/semantic-mediawiki). Vendors: [Semantic MediaWiki](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/semantic-mediawiki).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-116876 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-116876 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-116876?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.1, published 27 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Semantic MediaWiki 2.5.0 before 7.3.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-116876?** Yes: fixed in 7.3.1. Until then: Disable the optional edit-protection feature by not setting $smwgEditProtectionRight, or restrict it to highly trusted user groups only. Ensure $smwgEditProtectionRight is set to a right held only by curators or administrators, not ordinary editors. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-116876 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-116876?** Check whether you run Semantic MediaWiki at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 7.3.1

Disable the optional edit-protection feature by not setting $smwgEditProtectionRight, or restrict it to highly trusted user groups only. Ensure $smwgEditProtectionRight is set to a right held only by curators or administrators, not ordinary editors.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is an authorization bypass in the EditProtectionUpdater component. When a page edit includes the "Is edit protected::true" annotation, the updater applies indefinite edit and move restrictions without verifying that the author holds the configured smwgEditProtectionRight. An unauthenticated editor can exploit this via a network-based page edit to lock pages indefinitely, requiring the edit-protection feature to be enabled with a configured protection right.

## Affected products

- Semantic MediaWiki Semantic MediaWiki 2.5.0 before 7.3.1

## Timeline

- 2026-09-28: disclosed
- 2026-09-28: patched: Fix released in version 7.3.1
- 2026-10-27: advisory

## References

- [https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/commit/d2a198f42184373bb8604450c46a13a2c28eafa3](https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/commit/d2a198f42184373bb8604450c46a13a2c28eafa3)
- [https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/security/advisories/GHSA-9824-67pm-c29j](https://github.com/SemanticMediaWiki/SemanticMediaWiki/security/advisories/GHSA-9824-67pm-c29j)

## Related threats

- [Semantic MediaWiki authorization bypass in edit protection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126566-semantic-mediawiki-7-3-1-before-7-4-1-contains-an-incorrect)
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- [Semantic MediaWiki missing authorization in page edit protection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126561-semantic-mediawiki-2-5-0-before-7-4-1-contains-a-missing)