CVE-2011-4118 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
Mahara before 1.4.1, when MNet (aka the Moodle network feature) is used, allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via a jump to an XMLRPC target.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-4118 affects Mahara versions prior to 1.4.1 and specifically involves the MNet (Moodle Network) feature which enables federated authentication between Moodle and Mahara systems. This security flaw represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited by remote authenticated users who have already established a valid session within the system. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of XMLRPC targets during the MNet authentication process, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the authentication flow and gain elevated privileges within the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the MNet feature's handling of XMLRPC requests where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the target endpoints that users can jump to during authentication. When a user authenticates through MNet, the system should validate that the target XMLRPC endpoint is legitimate and authorized for the current user's session. However, in affected versions of Mahara, this validation mechanism is insufficient, allowing attackers to redirect their authentication attempts to arbitrary XMLRPC targets within the network. This flaw operates at the intersection of authentication and authorization mechanisms, creating a path for privilege escalation that can be exploited from a remote location.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it represents a critical weakness in the federated authentication model that Mahara implements. Attackers who can successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially gain administrative privileges within the Mahara system or access resources that should be restricted to authorized users only. The remote nature of the attack means that an authenticated user from any location can exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant or shared hosting environments where multiple organizations may be using the same Mahara installation. This vulnerability directly violates security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization in authentication mechanisms and CWE-345 which covers insufficient input validation. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation through authentication manipulation and credential access through network protocols. Organizations using Mahara should immediately implement patches to version 1.4.1 or later, which address the insufficient validation of XMLRPC targets. Additionally, network administrators should monitor for suspicious authentication patterns and implement proper network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and the need for robust authentication flow controls in federated systems where trust relationships between different platforms are established.