CVE-2008-5432 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Moodle before 1.6.8, 1.7 before 1.7.6, 1.8 before 1.8.7, and 1.9 before 1.9.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a Wiki page name (aka page title).
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2019
The CVE-2008-5432 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Moodle learning management system across multiple versions including 1.6.8, 1.7.6, 1.8.7, and 1.9.3. This vulnerability specifically affects the Wiki component of Moodle where users can create and edit wiki pages, making it a significant concern for educational institutions relying on this platform for online learning management. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the wiki page title field, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Moodle fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in the web interface. When a user creates or modifies a wiki page, the system should validate and sanitize the page title to prevent execution of malicious code. However, in affected versions, this sanitization process was insufficient, allowing attackers to craft specially crafted page titles containing script tags or other malicious HTML elements. When other users view these compromised wiki pages, the malicious code executes in their browsers within the context of the Moodle application, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attacks against Moodle users and administrators. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, deface wiki pages, or even execute more advanced attacks such as privilege escalation within the Moodle environment. The vulnerability affects all users who have access to create or edit wiki pages, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative learning environments where multiple users contribute to shared wiki content. Given that Moodle is widely used in educational institutions, the potential for widespread impact is significant, as attackers could compromise entire learning management systems and access sensitive student and faculty data.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial compromise phase through malicious web content. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal user interaction beyond viewing a compromised wiki page, making it a persistent threat that can affect users across different security levels including students, instructors, and system administrators. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the available security patches, implementing proper input validation at all user-facing interfaces, and considering additional protective measures such as content security policies. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in educational platforms where user-generated content is a core feature and security cannot be compromised due to the sensitive nature of academic data and learning environments.