CVE-2012-1161 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Moodle before 2.2.2: Course information leak via hidden courses being displayed in tag search results
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1161 affects Moodle versions prior to 2.2.2 and represents a significant information disclosure flaw that undermines the platform's access control mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the course visibility and search functionality within the Moodle learning management system, creating a scenario where unauthorized users can gain access to course information that should remain hidden or restricted. The issue manifests when hidden courses appear in tag search results, effectively bypassing the intended privacy controls that should prevent unauthorized access to course materials and metadata.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control implementation within Moodle's search and tagging subsystems. When users perform tag searches, the system fails to properly filter out courses that are marked as hidden or restricted from view. This occurs because the search functionality does not adequately verify user permissions before displaying course information in search results, creating a path for information leakage that violates fundamental security principles. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to discover and potentially access course content through indirect means, even when those courses are explicitly configured to be hidden from normal user navigation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable more sophisticated attack vectors and compromise the integrity of the learning environment. An attacker could potentially use this vulnerability to identify the existence of specific courses, gather intelligence about course content, and potentially access sensitive information such as course descriptions, enrollment details, and other metadata that should remain private. This information leakage can be particularly damaging in educational institutions where course content may contain confidential information, exam materials, or other sensitive data that should not be accessible to unauthorized individuals. The vulnerability undermines the trust model that Moodle relies on for maintaining secure course environments and can lead to broader security implications within the platform's overall architecture.
Organizations using affected Moodle versions should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Moodle 2.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the access control bypass. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough reviews of course visibility settings and ensure that proper access controls are enforced at all levels of the system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1213.001 related to data from information repositories. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring of search functionality and access logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses that may exist within the broader Moodle ecosystem or related components.