CVE-2010-1613 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Moodle 1.8.x and 1.9.x before 1.9.8 does not enable the "Regenerate session id during login" setting by default, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct session fixation attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-1613 affects Moodle learning management systems version 1.8.x and 1.9.x prior to 1.9.8, specifically addressing a critical security flaw in session management practices. This issue stems from the default configuration of the platform where the "Regenerate session id during login" setting remains disabled, creating exploitable conditions for malicious actors to perform session fixation attacks against authenticated users. The vulnerability represents a fundamental weakness in the application's authentication and session handling mechanisms that directly impacts user security and system integrity.
Session fixation attacks exploit the predictable nature of session identifiers to hijack user sessions after successful authentication. When the session id regeneration feature is not enabled, users who authenticate to the Moodle system retain their original session identifiers, making it possible for attackers to establish a session with a known session id and then hijack that session once a legitimate user logs in. This flaw allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication flow where session identifiers should be regenerated upon successful user login to prevent attackers from maintaining persistent access through previously established session tokens.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates persistent security risks for educational institutions relying on Moodle for their learning management needs. Attackers can exploit this weakness to monitor user activities, access course materials, manipulate grades, and potentially gain administrative privileges if they can successfully hijack sessions belonging to system administrators or teachers. The default nature of this vulnerability means that organizations deploying affected Moodle versions are automatically exposed to these risks without any active security configuration changes from administrators. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it affects all deployments that have not explicitly configured the security setting, creating widespread exposure across educational institutions globally.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's session management implementation where proper session security practices are not enabled by default. This aligns with common weakness patterns identified in CWE-384, which addresses session fixation vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1563.002, which covers credentials from password managers, as session hijacking represents a form of credential compromise. Organizations can mitigate this vulnerability by enabling the "Regenerate session id during login" setting within the Moodle administration panel, which forces the system to generate new session identifiers upon user authentication. Additionally, implementing proper session management policies, regularly updating Moodle installations, and conducting security audits of authentication mechanisms will help reduce the attack surface. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to Moodle 1.9.8 or later versions where this security feature is properly enabled by default, ensuring that all deployed instances automatically implement secure session handling practices.