CVE-2013-1830 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
user/view.php in Moodle through 2.1.10, 2.2.x before 2.2.8, 2.3.x before 2.3.5, and 2.4.x before 2.4.2 does not enforce the forceloginforprofiles setting, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive course-profile information by leveraging the guest role, as demonstrated by a Google search.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1830 represents a critical access control flaw within the Moodle learning management system that affects multiple version ranges including 2.1.10 and earlier, 2.2.x versions before 2.2.8, 2.3.x versions before 2.3.5, and 2.4.x versions before 2.4.2. This issue stems from the user/view.php script failing to properly enforce the forceloginforprofiles configuration setting, which creates an unexpected information disclosure channel that can be exploited by remote attackers. The flaw specifically impacts the guest role functionality and allows unauthorized access to sensitive course profile information that should otherwise be restricted to authenticated users only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper validation of user authentication states within the Moodle platform's profile viewing mechanism. When the forceloginforprofiles setting is enabled, it should require all users to authenticate before accessing course profile information, yet the user/view.php script does not properly check this configuration before displaying sensitive data. Attackers can exploit this by leveraging the guest role, which typically provides limited access to course materials, to bypass authentication requirements and access information that should remain confidential. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through simple means such as Google search queries that may inadvertently reveal information about course structures, user enrollments, or other sensitive profile data.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-1830 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise the integrity of educational institutions' learning management systems. When attackers can access course profile information without proper authentication, they gain insights into organizational structure, student enrollment patterns, course content, and potentially sensitive personal information associated with users. This vulnerability can be leveraged to conduct reconnaissance activities, identify high-value targets for further attacks, or simply gather intelligence about the educational institution's digital infrastructure. The guest role exploitation aspect means that even unauthenticated users can access data that should require proper authentication, fundamentally undermining the platform's security model.
Organizations using affected Moodle versions should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions that address the forceloginforprofiles enforcement issue. The recommended approach involves ensuring that all users are properly authenticated before accessing profile information, particularly when the forceloginforprofiles setting is enabled. Security administrators should also review their current configuration settings to verify that proper authentication requirements are in place for profile access. Additionally, network-level monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a significant concern for organizations following ATT&CK framework tactics related to credential access and reconnaissance activities. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration enforcement issues can create substantial security risks in educational platforms that handle sensitive user data and institutional information.