CVE-2012-2356 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
The question-bank functionality in Moodle 2.1.x before 2.1.6 and 2.2.x before 2.2.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended capability requirements and save questions via a save_question action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2356 represents a critical access control flaw within the Moodle learning management system that affects versions 2.1.x prior to 2.1.6 and 2.2.x prior to 2.2.3. This issue resides in the question-bank functionality, which serves as a core component for educators to manage assessment questions within the platform. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user capabilities during the question saving process, creating a pathway for authenticated users to perform actions they should not be authorized to execute. The flaw specifically manifests when the system fails to properly verify whether the authenticated user possesses the necessary permissions to save questions, allowing unauthorized individuals to bypass the intended capability requirements.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. Attackers exploiting this weakness can leverage their authenticated status to manipulate the question-bank functionality and save questions without proper authorization, potentially leading to data integrity violations and unauthorized content creation. This misconfiguration enables malicious actors to inject questions that may contain inappropriate content or exploit the system in ways that compromise educational integrity. The vulnerability operates at the application level, targeting the authorization mechanisms that should prevent users from performing administrative or content creation tasks without proper clearance.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to educational institutions using Moodle platforms. The ability to bypass capability requirements means that users with limited privileges could potentially add questions to assessments that might influence student outcomes or contain inappropriate material. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by users who have legitimate access to the system but should not have elevated privileges. This flaw undermines the security model of the platform and could lead to data corruption, unauthorized content modification, or even potential privilege escalation scenarios within the question management system.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions of Moodle 2.1.6 and 2.2.3, which contain the necessary authorization checks to prevent this vulnerability. Organizations should also review and validate user permissions within their Moodle installations to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to question-bank modification capabilities. The remediation strategy should include monitoring for unauthorized question creation activities and implementing proper access controls that align with the principle of least privilege. Additionally, administrators should conduct regular security audits of their Moodle installations to identify potential authorization bypass opportunities and ensure that all system components maintain proper capability enforcement mechanisms. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing robust access control measures in educational technology platforms.