CVE-2012-1170 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Moodle before 2.2.2 has an external enrolment plugin context check issue where capability checks are not thorough
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1170 affects Moodle versions prior to 2.2.2 and represents a critical security flaw in the external enrolment plugin functionality. This issue stems from insufficient capability checks within the enrolment system, creating a scenario where unauthorized users may gain elevated privileges or access to restricted resources. The vulnerability specifically impacts the context validation mechanisms that should prevent users from performing actions beyond their assigned permissions within the learning management system.
The technical flaw manifests in the external enrolment plugin's failure to properly validate user capabilities before executing enrolment operations. When users attempt to enroll others in courses or modify enrolment settings, the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary permissions to perform these actions. This inadequate validation creates a privilege escalation vector where users with minimal privileges might be able to enroll others in courses they should not have access to, or manipulate enrolment configurations in ways that violate the intended security model. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise the entire learning environment. An attacker exploiting this issue could enroll themselves or others into restricted courses, access confidential course materials, manipulate grading systems, or disrupt normal educational workflows. The vulnerability particularly affects institutions that rely on external enrolment methods such as LDAP, database, or manual enrolment plugins, as these systems are most susceptible to the inadequate context validation. This flaw could enable unauthorized access to sensitive educational data, violate student privacy regulations, and potentially allow attackers to gain persistence within the learning management system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1170 require immediate action to upgrade affected Moodle installations to version 2.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary security patches. Organizations should also review and harden their enrolment plugin configurations, ensuring that only authorized administrators have access to external enrolment settings. Security teams should implement regular vulnerability assessments focusing on capability checks and access controls within the LMS. Additionally, monitoring logs for unusual enrolment activities and implementing network segmentation can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of enrolment workflows to ensure that the patched system maintains proper functionality while addressing the security gap. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper capability validation in educational platforms and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for robust access control mechanisms in learning management systems.