screenshot of the error
Steps to reproduce:
1.Go to this page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:RYasmeen_(WMF)/12th_december&veaction=edit
2.Copy the reference and the reference list at the end of this page
3.Paste in into another VE
4.Save it
Observed Result:
The wiki text for the text copied is:
reference<ref>http://cnn.com</ref>
<references />
The wiki text on the page where it is copied to:
reference<ref />
<references />
In Edit mode it says:
The reference is defined in a template or other generated block and for now can
only be edited in source mode.
and the reference cannot be edited using VE
In read mode it shows:
Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed
or has a bad name (see the help page).
Version: unspecified
Severity: major
Attached: