# CVE-2026-96873: MediaWiki CirrusSearch extension reflected XSS

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96873-improper-neutralization-of-input-during-web-page-generation-cross  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-24. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-96873 · Severity: info · Published 2026-09-24

MediaWiki's CirrusSearch extension, which handles search functionality for wiki sites, contains a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability. An attacker can craft a malicious link that executes JavaScript in a user's browser when clicked, potentially allowing account takeover, session hijacking, or defacement of wiki content.

Vendors: [Wikimedia](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/wikimedia).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-96873 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96873 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-96873?** Informational severity, published 24 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Wikimedia MediaWiki CirrusSearch extension through 1.46.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96873?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-96873 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-96873?** Check whether you run Wikimedia MediaWiki CirrusSearch extension 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.

## Technical details

A reflected XSS vulnerability exists in the CirrusSearch extension due to improper input neutralization during web page generation. The vulnerability is triggered via user-supplied input that is echoed back in the HTTP response without sanitization. An attacker can exploit this by crafting a malicious URL and tricking a user into clicking it, resulting in arbitrary JavaScript execution in the victim's browser context.

## Affected products

- Wikimedia MediaWiki CirrusSearch extension through 1.46.0

## Timeline

- 2026-09-24: disclosed

## References

- [https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/c/mediawiki/extensions/CirrusSearch/+/1344368](https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/c/mediawiki/extensions/CirrusSearch/+/1344368)
- [https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T435234](https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T435234)