CVE-2012-6101 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple open redirect vulnerabilities in Moodle 2.2.x before 2.2.7, 2.3.x before 2.3.4, and 2.4.x before 2.4.1 allow remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via vectors related to (1) backup/backupfilesedit.php, (2) comment/comment_post.php, (3) course/switchrole.php, (4) mod/wiki/filesedit.php, (5) tag/coursetags_add.php, or (6) user/files.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2019
The CVE-2012-6101 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw affecting multiple versions of the Moodle learning management system. This vulnerability exists across several version ranges including 2.2.x before 2.2.7, 2.3.x before 2.3.4, and 2.4.x before 2.4.1, making it a widespread issue that impacted numerous educational institutions relying on Moodle for their online learning platforms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within specific file paths that handle user redirects, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate redirect parameters and potentially compromise user security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves six distinct attack vectors that all share a common flaw in redirect parameter handling. The affected files include backup/backupfilesedit.php, comment/comment_post.php, course/switchrole.php, mod/wiki/filesedit.php, tag/coursetags_add.php, and user/files.php, each of which processes user input without proper validation of redirect destinations. These files accept redirect parameters that are directly used to redirect users after certain operations, without verifying that the target URL belongs to the legitimate Moodle domain or is otherwise safe for redirection.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables sophisticated phishing attacks by allowing remote attackers to redirect users to malicious websites that appear to be legitimate Moodle pages. Attackers can craft URLs that exploit the redirect functionality to direct users to fake login pages or sites designed to capture credentials, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in educational environments where users frequently access the platform for learning activities. The impact extends beyond simple redirection as it creates opportunities for credential theft, data exfiltration, and further exploitation of the compromised user sessions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 Open Redirect and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 Phishing and T1078 Valid Accounts. Organizations using affected Moodle versions face significant risk of credential compromise and unauthorized access to educational systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Moodle is widely used in academic institutions, potentially exposing thousands of users to coordinated phishing campaigns. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application development.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to the latest available versions of Moodle, implementing proper input validation for all redirect parameters, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious redirect patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance policies to prevent users from being directed to malicious sites. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader security gaps in web application development practices.