CVE-2012-6100 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
report/outline/index.php in Moodle 2.2.x before 2.2.7, 2.3.x before 2.3.4, and 2.4.x before 2.4.1 does not properly enforce the moodle/user:viewhiddendetails capability requirement, which allows remote authenticated users to discover a hidden lastaccess value by reading an activity report.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-6100 affects Moodle versions prior to specific patch releases, specifically targeting the report/outline/index.php component within the learning management system. This flaw represents a capability-based access control weakness that undermines the intended security model of the platform. The issue stems from insufficient validation of user permissions when accessing certain reporting functionalities, creating an avenue for unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability impacts multiple version branches including 2.2.x, 2.3.x, and 2.4.x, indicating a widespread concern across the Moodle 2.x release series.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper enforcement of the moodle/user:viewhiddendetails capability requirement within the outline report functionality. This capability is designed to restrict access to sensitive user information including hidden lastaccess values that typically should remain concealed from regular users. When authenticated users exploit this vulnerability, they can bypass the intended access controls and retrieve information about user activity timestamps that are normally protected. The flaw operates at the application logic level where permission checks fail to properly validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to access the hidden details.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for educational institutions relying on Moodle for their learning management needs. The exposure of hidden lastaccess values can provide attackers with insights into user behavior patterns, system usage timing, and potentially aid in social engineering attacks. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege by allowing authenticated users to access information beyond their intended permissions, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks. Organizations may face compliance issues and increased security risks when user activity data becomes inadvertently accessible through this vector.
The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure, as the vulnerability can be leveraged as a reconnaissance tool for attackers planning more complex attacks. This type of access control bypass aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the use of elevated privileges or access to resources that should be restricted. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling and incident response planning, as it represents a persistent risk that can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors with legitimate access to the system.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Moodle installations to versions 2.2.7, 2.3.4, and 2.4.1 respectively. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of report access patterns to detect anomalous usage that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of capability assignments and access controls should be conducted to ensure that permission models function as intended. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while properly addressing the access control bypass.