CVE-2011-4284 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from a myprofile (aka My profile) block by visiting a user-context page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4284 affects Moodle version 2.0.x prior to 2.0.2 and represents a sensitive information disclosure flaw within the myprofile block functionality. This vulnerability resides in the core user profile management system of the Moodle learning management platform, which is widely deployed in educational institutions and corporate training environments. The issue stems from inadequate access controls and insufficient input validation within the user context page handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply visiting specific user-context pages to extract sensitive information about other users within the system. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic privilege escalation issue where unauthorized users gain access to data they should not be able to view, fundamentally compromising the confidentiality aspect of the system's security model. This type of information disclosure vulnerability is particularly dangerous in educational environments where Moodle platforms often contain personal student data, academic records, and institutional information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the myprofile block component of Moodle's user interface architecture. When users navigate to specific pages within the user context, the system fails to properly authenticate and authorize access requests before displaying profile information. This flaw allows remote attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve user-specific data through direct URL manipulation or crafted requests. The vulnerability specifically impacts the user profile display functionality, where sensitive attributes such as email addresses, personal identifiers, and potentially other user-related information become accessible without proper authentication. The root cause lies in the insufficient validation of user permissions and session state checks during page rendering processes. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which catalogs weaknesses related to information exposure, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all access control mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the application layer of the OSI model where user requests are processed and responses are generated, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through network-level security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4284 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise user privacy and institutional security. In educational environments, this vulnerability could expose student personal information, academic records, and communication details to unauthorized parties, creating significant privacy risks and potential regulatory violations under data protection laws. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire Moodle platform, as it allows attackers to gather intelligence about users and potentially identify patterns in user behavior or institutional structure. The remote nature of this attack means that threat actors can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or local network privileges. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to cybercriminals who may use the gathered information for social engineering attacks, identity theft, or further exploitation attempts. The impact is amplified in large institutional deployments where Moodle systems may contain thousands of user profiles, providing attackers with substantial data for analysis and potential misuse. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to map institutional user bases and identify key personnel, potentially enabling more sophisticated targeting attacks.
Organizations utilizing affected Moodle versions should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommended action is to upgrade to Moodle version 2.0.2 or later, which includes the necessary patches to resolve the access control issues. System administrators should also implement additional network-level controls such as access control lists and web application firewalls to monitor and restrict access to user profile pages. Regular security audits should be conducted to ensure proper access controls are in place and that no unauthorized access pathways exist within the system. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security monitoring procedures. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls that further restrict profile access based on user roles and permissions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques related to credential access and reconnaissance, as attackers can gather information about users and system structure to plan more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for proper input validation and access control implementation across all application components, particularly those handling user-specific data. Additionally, organizations should establish incident response procedures to quickly identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities when they are discovered in other systems or applications.