CVE-2011-4287 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
admin/uploaduser_form.php in Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.3 does not force password changes for autosubscribed users, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access by leveraging knowledge of the initial password of a new user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4287 affects Moodle version 2.0.x before 2.0.3 and resides in the admin/uploaduser_form.php component. This issue represents a significant security flaw that undermines the authentication mechanisms of the learning management system. The vulnerability specifically targets the user account provisioning process where users are automatically subscribed to courses through bulk upload functionality. When new users are created via this automated process, the system fails to enforce mandatory password changes during their initial login, leaving them vulnerable to unauthorized access attempts.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation and enforcement of password policies within the user creation workflow. When Moodle processes user uploads through the admin interface, it creates accounts with pre-assigned initial passwords that are not automatically invalidated or required to be changed upon first authentication. This design oversight creates a persistent security weakness that directly violates fundamental principles of secure authentication practices. The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the knowledge of these initial passwords to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, effectively bypassing normal authentication controls that should be in place for newly created accounts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface for remote attackers who may have gained access to the initial password information through various means such as reconnaissance, social engineering, or through compromised systems. The impact extends beyond individual account compromise as attackers can potentially escalate privileges and access sensitive course materials, personal user data, and administrative functions. This weakness particularly affects institutions that rely heavily on automated user provisioning and bulk account creation processes, which are common in educational environments with large student populations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-620, which addresses "Weak Password Change Mechanisms," and represents a clear violation of secure password management practices. From an attacker's perspective, this issue maps to ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for credential access through password spraying and credential dumping. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Moodle 2.0.3 or later versions, implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication, and establishing strict password policies for automatically created accounts. Security teams should also monitor user account creation logs and implement automated systems to detect and flag suspicious authentication patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of enforcing password change policies for all newly created accounts, particularly those created through automated provisioning mechanisms that are common in enterprise and educational environments.