CVE-2012-2361 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/webservice/forms.php in the web services implementation in 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 inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the name field (aka the service name) to admin/webservice/service.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2021
The CVE-2012-2361 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Moodle's web services implementation that affects multiple versions of the popular learning management system. This vulnerability specifically targets the admin/webservice/forms.php component and manifests when processing the name field, also known as the service name, in the admin/webservice/service.php file. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content, creating a significant security risk for educational institutions relying on Moodle for their online learning platforms. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the web services framework, allowing malicious actors with valid user credentials to exploit this weakness and potentially compromise the entire system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the service name parameter within the web services administration interface. When authenticated users with appropriate privileges access the service management functionality, the application fails to properly sanitize the input provided in the name field before rendering it in the web interface. This lack of proper sanitization creates an XSS vector that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications, and represents a classic case of improper input validation where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web pages without adequate sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious service names containing script tags or other HTML content that gets executed when other administrators view the service list or details.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and perform unauthorized actions within the Moodle environment. When authenticated users view the affected web service forms, their browsers execute the injected malicious code, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of legitimate users. This threat is particularly concerning in educational environments where Moodle instances often contain sensitive student data, course materials, and administrative functions. The vulnerability can be exploited to create persistent backdoors or to manipulate the web services configuration, potentially granting attackers access to additional system resources or enabling them to perform unauthorized modifications to the learning management system. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing with attachments, as it enables the execution of malicious scripts and can be part of broader attack chains targeting educational institutions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to protect their Moodle installations. The primary remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of Moodle, specifically versions 2.0.9, 2.1.6, and 2.2.3, which contain the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement strict input validation measures and output sanitization within the web services framework to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Security configurations should include regular monitoring of user activities within the web services administration sections and implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content in administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing of Moodle installations can help identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that security measures remain effective against evolving threats in the educational technology landscape.