CVE-2006-4940 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
login/forgot_password.php in Moodle before 1.6.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information (e-mail addresses and Moodle account names) via a find action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-4940 affects Moodle versions prior to 1.6.2 and resides within the login/forgot_password.php script. This represents a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the security of user authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes a "find" action, which is typically used to assist users in retrieving their account credentials. Attackers can exploit this weakness to extract sensitive user information including email addresses and Moodle account names without requiring authentication or privileged access.
This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure as classified by CWE-200, which encompasses weaknesses that allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation and inadequate output sanitization, where the application fails to properly restrict access to account recovery functionality. The issue is particularly dangerous because it directly exposes user account information that could be leveraged for subsequent attacks including credential stuffing, social engineering campaigns, or targeted phishing attempts. The vulnerability exists due to improper access controls within the password recovery process, allowing unauthorized parties to enumerate user accounts through the forgot password mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the Moodle ecosystem. Attackers can systematically harvest user account information, building comprehensive databases of legitimate users that can be used for various malicious purposes. This vulnerability particularly affects educational institutions relying on Moodle for learning management, as it exposes the personal information of students, faculty, and staff members. The attack vector is straightforward and requires no specialized tools, making it accessible to even novice attackers. The exposure of email addresses and account names provides attackers with valuable intelligence for planning targeted attacks against specific users within the organization.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4940 primarily involve upgrading to Moodle version 1.6.2 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper access control implementation. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including rate limiting on password recovery requests, logging and monitoring of suspicious activities, and implementing CAPTCHA mechanisms to prevent automated enumeration attacks. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts. Security administrators should also review and harden authentication mechanisms, ensuring that account recovery processes do not inadvertently expose user information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which involves the exploitation of credential recovery mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive security frameworks.