CVE-2012-2358 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.9, 2.1.x before 2.1.6, and 2.2.x before 2.2.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass an activity s read-only state and modify the database by leveraging the student role and editing database activity entries that already exist.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2021
This vulnerability resides in the Moodle learning management system and represents a significant access control flaw that undermines the integrity of database activities within the platform. The issue affects multiple versions including 2.0.x prior to 2.0.9, 2.1.x prior to 2.1.6, and 2.2.x prior to 2.2.3, indicating a widespread problem that persisted across several major releases. The vulnerability specifically targets the database activity module where users with the student role can exploit a flaw in the permission system to bypass read-only restrictions and modify existing database entries.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of user permissions within the database activity component. When students attempt to interact with database activities that are configured to be read-only, the system fails to properly enforce the restriction that should prevent modifications to existing entries. This occurs because the permission checking mechanism does not adequately verify whether the user has the necessary privileges to modify existing records, even when those records are part of a read-only activity context. The vulnerability stems from a weakness in the authorization framework where the system does not properly distinguish between viewing and modifying operations for existing database entries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows authenticated users with minimal privileges to potentially corrupt or manipulate database content that should remain protected. Attackers with student accounts can exploit this flaw to modify existing database entries, which could lead to data integrity issues, false information in academic records, or manipulation of course content that other users rely upon. This represents a privilege escalation issue where users with limited roles can perform actions typically restricted to higher-privileged users, undermining the security model of the learning management system. The vulnerability particularly affects educational environments where database activities are used for collaborative projects, assignments, or shared resources where data consistency is critical.
Organizations using affected Moodle versions should immediately apply the relevant security patches released by the Moodle development team to address this vulnerability. The fix typically involves strengthening the permission checking logic within the database activity module to ensure that read-only restrictions are properly enforced regardless of user roles. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of database activities and review permission settings to identify any potentially compromised entries. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage existing accounts to perform unauthorized modifications, potentially leading to data integrity compromises that could affect educational outcomes and institutional credibility. The security implications extend beyond simple data modification to include potential impacts on academic integrity and the trustworthiness of the learning management system as a whole.