CVE-2012-5480 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
The Database activity module in Moodle 2.1.x before 2.1.9, 2.2.x before 2.2.6, and 2.3.x before 2.3.3 allows remote attackers to bypass intended restrictions on reading other participants entries via an advanced search.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5480 affects the Database activity module within Moodle learning management system versions prior to specific patch releases. This issue represents a significant access control flaw that undermines the security model designed to protect user privacy and data integrity within educational environments. The vulnerability specifically impacts Moodle versions 2.1.x before 2.1.9, 2.2.x before 2.2.6, and 2.3.x before 2.3.3, creating a persistent risk for institutions relying on these software versions for their online learning platforms.
The technical flaw resides in the advanced search functionality of the Database activity module, which fails to properly enforce access restrictions when processing search queries. Attackers can exploit this weakness to construct malicious search parameters that bypass the intended permission controls governing participant entries within database activities. This allows unauthorized users to access and read content created by other participants in the same course, effectively undermining the fundamental principle of user isolation that should exist between different participants in educational databases.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risks for educational institutions using Moodle platforms. The ability to bypass access controls means that students or unauthorized users could potentially access confidential information, personal data, or academic entries submitted by their peers. This breach of privacy could have serious implications for student confidentiality, particularly in courses where database activities might contain sensitive personal information, assignments, or assessments. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise the integrity of the entire learning environment.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with privilege escalation attacks within web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a technique for privilege escalation and credential access through application vulnerabilities, specifically targeting the access control mechanisms within the Moodle platform. The attack vector requires remote exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed from any location without physical access to the system.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to patched versions of Moodle where available, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases. Administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts. The recommended remediation involves applying the official security patches provided by Moodle developers, which typically include enhanced validation of search parameters and strengthened access control enforcement within the database activity module. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the learning management system infrastructure.