CVE-2004-1424 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in view.php in Moodle 1.4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1424 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw located within the view.php script of Moodle version 1.4.2 and earlier installations. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of user input through the search parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability resides in the web application's failure to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, thereby enabling persistent or reflected XSS attacks against unsuspecting users.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in web applications that allow attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This particular vulnerability operates through a reflected XSS mechanism where the malicious payload is embedded within the search parameter and subsequently executed when the page is rendered. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be delivered through simple URL manipulation, making it easily exploitable by remote attackers without requiring any special privileges or access to the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. In educational environments where Moodle serves as a learning management system, this vulnerability could compromise the integrity of the entire platform, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive student information, manipulate course content, or establish persistent backdoors within the system. The widespread adoption of Moodle in educational institutions makes this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1424 should focus on immediate patching of affected Moodle installations to versions that properly address the input validation issues in view.php. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques including HTML encoding of user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, and employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and input validation practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious web content. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious search parameter usage can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while user education regarding suspicious links and website behavior should be emphasized as part of a comprehensive security posture.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications, particularly in educational platforms handling sensitive user data. Organizations should establish robust security practices including regular vulnerability assessments, automated security scanning, and secure coding guidelines that address common web application vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the security improvements. Regular updates to the Moodle platform and associated plugins should be implemented as part of an ongoing security maintenance program, with security monitoring systems in place to detect and respond to similar vulnerabilities in the future.