CVE-2012-3389 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in mod/lti/typessettings.php in Moodle 2.2.x before 2.2.4 and 2.3.x before 2.3.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) lti_typename or (2) lti_toolurl parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3389 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Moodle's LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) component, specifically within the mod/lti/typessettings.php file. This issue affects Moodle versions 2.2.x prior to 2.2.4 and 2.3.x prior to 2.3.1, creating a significant security risk for educational institutions relying on this learning management system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the LTI tool configuration interface, where user-supplied parameters are not adequately filtered before being rendered in web responses.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack vectors involving the lti_typename and lti_toolurl parameters. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when submitted through these parameters, get executed in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected LTI tool settings page. This allows adversaries to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), which is a fundamental web application security weakness categorized under the OWASP Top Ten as one of the most prevalent security risks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged to compromise the entire Moodle environment through persistent XSS attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to user sessions, potentially escalating privileges or accessing sensitive course materials and user data. The attack surface is particularly concerning in educational environments where Moodle platforms often contain sensitive personal information, academic records, and institutional data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001: Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads through seemingly legitimate LTI tool configurations that users might trust.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3389 involve immediate patching of affected Moodle installations to versions 2.2.4 or 2.3.1, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all user-supplied data, and regular security auditing of LTI tool configurations. Network segmentation and monitoring of LTI tool usage can help detect anomalous activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution capabilities and establish robust incident response procedures for potential XSS exploitation events. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security testing practices for web applications in educational environments.